TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) has criticized China for interfering with President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) planned trip to diplomatic ally Eswatini.

Lai said in a Facebook post that China’s use of political pressure to interfere with international civil aviation and its weaponization of flight information challenge the rules-based international order and “constitute suppression of Taiwan.”

Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar canceled overflight permissions for Taiwan on Tuesday night after pressure from China, prompting Lai to postpone the visit. The president was scheduled to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Eswatini King Mswati III’s coronation and his 58th birthday from Wednesday to Sunday. The president will appoint a special envoy to attend the events instead.

Lin said that Taiwan is a sovereign country and its 23 million people have the right to engage with the world. “No form of authoritarian coercion can alter our determination to connect with the international community,” he said, adding that “Taiwan is, and has always been, a part of the world.”

The foreign minister thanked Eswatini and all allies and partners who assisted in flight route negotiations. Taiwan will continue to engage with the world, he said.  “The more pressure we face, the calmer and more resolute we will remain.”

More than 40 political figures from a dozen African countries had welcomed Lai’s trip.