Washington does not officially recognise Taiwan, but is the island territory’s main security backer – though the tone of that support has softened slightly under US President Donald Trump.
The US leader is due to meet China’s President Xi Jinping next month.
Beijing said on Wednesday it had “high appreciation” for the African countries that blocked the permits for Lai’s trip planned for this week.
“Relevant countries maintained support for the one-China principle, completely in line with … the basic norms of international relations, China expresses high appreciation,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
Lai’s last official overseas trip was in November 2024, when he visited Taiwan’s Pacific allies and transited through the US territory of Guam.
Trump’s administration reportedly denied Lai permission to transit in New York last year as part of an official trip to Latin America. Taiwan’s foreign ministry denies that he was blocked.
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