Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Saturday arrived in Eswatini, Taipei's only diplomatic ally in Africa, after an earlier trip was cancelled as several countries revoked overflight permits.

The Eswatini government the arrival in a Facebook post. “Welcome home, Your Excellency,” it said.

Lai on Saturday said only that his initial visit had been "suspended due to unexpected external forces".

But "after days of secret arrangements by the diplomatic and national security teams, we arrived successfully today (Saturday)," he said in a Facebook post.

"I hope this trip will contribute to even deeper friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini, thanks to closer economic, agricultural, cultural and educational links, as well as promote Taiwan's international cooperation," he added.

Overflight permissions

Lai was originally scheduled to visit the southern Africa country from April 22 to 26, but he had to cancel the trip after various African countries revoked their overflight permissions.

China subsequently expressed its "high appreciation" to African countries that had revoked overflight permits to the Taiwanese leader.

"Relevant countries maintained support for the one-China principle, completely in line with... the basic norms of international relations, China expresses high appreciation," the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson had said in a statement.

China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes the self-governed island's participation in international organisations and its exchanges with other countries.

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is among Taiwan's 12 remaining allies that still recognise its claim to statehood, after Beijing convinced others to sever diplomatic relations with Taipei.