Mauritius Defends Decision to Block Taiwanese President’s Flight from Airspace

The Mauritian government has formally defended its decision to deny Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s aircraft permission to transit through its airspace, citing a long-standing diplomatic commitment to the “One China Policy.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Ritesh Ramphul confirmed that the refusal, which occurred while President Lai was en route to Eswatini, was a sovereign act consistent with the nation’s foreign policy framework established in 1972.

Sovereignty Over Pressure

Addressing speculation regarding international influence, Minister Ramphul explicitly denied that the move was dictated by external forces.

“Mauritius acts in full sovereignty, in accordance with its diplomatic principles,” he stated, dismissing claims that Beijing had exerted pressure on the administration to block the flight.

The Minister further clarified the nature of the island nation’s ties with the People’s Republic of China, noting the absence of any formal military or political treaties.

“We must be very clear: we have a very good relationship with China, but it is limited to a cultural and commercial relationship,” Ramphul said.

Regional and Global Context

Mauritius is not alone in this stance; the Minister noted that the position is shared by several regional neighbours, including the Seychelles and Madagascar.

He also drew parallels to broader international relations, pointing out that both the United Kingdom and the United States share Mauritius’s perspective on other sensitive territorial matters, such as the Chagos Archipelago.

US Sanction Threats Dismissed

The diplomatic friction has caught the attention of Washington, with US Congressman Tom Tiffany suggesting potential sanctions against African nations—including Mauritius—over the incident.

However, Minister Ramphul remained unruffled by the rhetoric from Capitol Hill.

He reassured the public that such statements have had no impact on the country’s diplomatic standing to date, reiterating the government’s intent to maintain a balanced approach to international affairs.

Source: Defi Media