MBABANE – Did you know?
In 2019, the United States of America (USA) passed a law that deals with all nations that undermine the Republic of China on Taiwan (ROC).
It is called the Taipei Act or the Taipei Act of 2019 (Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative)
Taipei is the capital city of Taiwan.
Following Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s cancelled trip to Eswatini after Madagascar, Seychelles and Mauritius revoked overflight permits for his aircraft, the United States has been called upon by some of its lawmakers to invoke the Taipei Act.
It is said that this piece of legislation protects Taiwan from bullying or undermining by other States.
It has been established that the law passed so that the United States Government (USG) can act as follows:
- Consider, in certain cases, as appropriate and in alignment with United States interests, reducing its economic, security and diplomatic engagement with nations that take serious or significant actions to undermine Taiwan.
- Support Taiwan in strengthening its official diplomatic relationships as well as unofficial partnerships with countries in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.
- Consider, in certain cases, as appropriate and in alignment with United States interests, increasing its economic, security and diplomatic engagement with nations that have demonstrably strengthened, enhanced or upgraded relations with Taiwan.
It appears that the United States raised concerns under the Taipei Act regarding the decision by Madagascar, Seychelles and Mauritius to revoke overflight clearances for Taiwan’s president.
Washington described the incident as an abuse of the international civil aviation system. Meanwhile, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office dismissed the allegation but expressed appreciation for the stance and ‘practice’ of the three countries in upholding the One-China principle.
United States Representative Tom Tiffany has urged officials in the Donald Trump administration to impose sanctions on three African nations accused of blocking President Lai Ching-te’s flight to Eswatini, reportedly at the request of Beijing.
According to Taiwan’s Presidential Office Secretary General, Pan Men-an, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar withdrew overflight permissions for the presidential aircraft following pressure from China, which allegedly included economic coercion.
In response, Tiffany sent a formal letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.
Tiffany expressed his alignment with the Trump administration’s concerns over what he described as a violation of international civil aviation norms by ‘three of Communist China’s client States in Africa’. He said the withdrawal of flight privileges appeared to have been carried out ‘at Beijing’s behest’.
He condemned the move as ‘irresponsible’ and warned that it set a dangerous precedent in international relations.
The member of the House of Representative further urged US officials to take firm action to hold the three governments accountable.
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Taiwan rejects claims by Seychelles, Madagascar
MBABANE – The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly rejected justifications by the Foreign ministries of Seychelles and Madagascar.
Both countries issued statements to justify their decision to withdraw overflight permits for the chartered aircraft carrying President Lai Ching-te to Eswatini.
Seychelles and Madagascar respectively declared that they did not recognise Taiwan’s sovereignty and adhered to the ‘One-China principle’.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan said, by doing so, both countries have acceded to China’s distorted narrative, which undermines international norms and endangers aviation safety.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that their statements clearly demonstrated that China was behind the incident.
The ministry condemned China in the strongest possible terms for blatantly interfering in routine international civil aviation operations through political pressure and for politicising and weaponising flight information regions.
President Lai Ching-te had been due to lead a delegation to Eswatini, one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in Africa, at the invitation of His Majesty King Mswati III to attend celebrations marking his 40th anniversary on the Throne and his 58th birthday. However, the visit could not proceed as planned after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar abruptly and without prior notice, revoked overflight permits for the president’s-chartered aircraft.
The ministry solemnly called on the international community to take note of China’s long-standing use of economic coercion to compel other countries to reverse sovereign decisions.
It said such conduct not only undermines international peace and order, but also represents direct interference in the internal affairs of other nations.
The ministry stated that China’s actions threatened not only Taiwan, but also posed a serious and far-reaching challenge to the global democratic order and the international rule of law.
It reiterated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent State.
“Neither it nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other. No statement or action attempting to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty can alter the internationally recognised objective status quo across the Taiwan Strait,” it stated.
*Full article available on Pressreader*
