# The visit by Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te to Eswatini has drawn harsh criticism by China who called him a “rat”. Ching-te countered by saying Taiwan has a right to engage with the world and no country can stop that. China views democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taiwan’s government strongly disputes, and Beijing has demanded countries stop any engagements with the island. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said Lai had “skulked” his way to Eswatini.
Taiwanese president visits Eswatini amidst harsh criticism by China