BEIJING, April 22 — China today praised three countries for denying overflight permission to an aircraft carrying Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying the one-China principle is a widely accepted norm in international relations.
BEIJING, April 22 — China today praised three countries for denying overflight permission to an aircraft carrying Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying the one-China principle is a widely accepted norm in international relations.
At a regular briefing in Beijing, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office rejected accusations that Beijing had used economic pressure to block the flight, while commending the countries involved for upholding the one-China principle.
Taiwan had earlier accused China of pressuring the Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar to withdraw permission for Lai’s aircraft to transit their airspace. Lai had been scheduled to visit Eswatini this week.
Eswatini is among a small number of countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than Beijing. Lai was originally set to depart Taiwan to attend celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s reign.
The development comes just over a week after China introduced new incentives for Taiwan, including eased food import measures, following a meeting between opposition figure Cheng Li-wun and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. — AFP
BANGKOK, April 24 — Thailand’s Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a petition accusing 44 current and former opposition lawmakers of ethics violations over their 2021 move to amend a law protecting the monarchy from criticism, according to Thai media reports.
PUTRAJAYA, April 24 — The Court of Appeal today dismissed Kepala Batas MP Dr Siti Mastura’s appeal against a High Court ruling ordering her to pay RM825,000 in damages and costs for defaming three DAP leaders by linking them to former Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng.
THE HAGUE, April 23 — Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte will stand trial at the International Criminal Court after judges on Thursday confirmed charges of crimes against humanity over his controversial “war on drugs.”