Taiwan leader defies China after Eswatini trip and reasserts island’s global role

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching‑te returned from a three‑day visit to Eswatini declaring on Tuesday that state‑to‑state travel is a “basic right,” using the moment to push back against Chinese efforts to block his trip and to reaffirm Taiwan’s determination to stay engaged with the world.

Lai had originally planned to visit Eswatini — one of Taiwan’s 12 remaining diplomatic allies — last month, but Taipei says China…