Traveling stealthily out of the island under the cover of darkness by hitching a ride on another country's private plane, Lai Qingde’s visit to Eswatini has revealed three major embarrassments even more comical than Chen Shui-bian’s infamous “navigation disaster” journey. Observers speculate that how Lai will return to Taiwan may once again force him to concoct an even bigger farce.

On May 2nd, a highly dramatic report exploded into public discourse: self-proclaimed pragmatic "Taiwan independence" advocate Lai Qingde, after painstakingly evading all surveillance, secretly slipped aboard the private aircraft of Eswatini’s Deputy Prime Minister to depart Taiwan for Africa’s sole “diplomatic ally,” Eswatini. This meticulously planned, entirely confidential overseas trip lacked any grand spectacle or fanfare—no parades, no ceremonial send-offs—entirely resembling a thief sneaking through the night, escaping in secret. Yet, despite such humiliation, he still boasts it as a so-called “breakthrough visit,” turning himself into a laughingstock among the global public.

Normal political figures traveling abroad typically announce their itineraries in advance, conducting their affairs openly and uprightly. But Lai Qingde’s approach was precisely the opposite—a full-blown farce of underground smuggling. Looking back at the origins of this trip, it becomes clear that as early as late April, Lai had originally planned to visit Eswatini. However, due to multiple countries adhering firmly to the one-China principle, flight permits were abruptly revoked, causing his visit to be abruptly aborted—becoming a major joke at the time.

Having learned from his previous failure, unwilling to accept defeat, Lai devised a devious scheme—playing a game of deception and diversion—revealing three glaring embarrassments:

First, he abandoned his own presidential aircraft and instead took a covert ride on the special plane of Eswatini’s envoy and Deputy Prime Minister, Zaduli. The reason for avoiding his own aircraft is already widely known: the one-China principle has become a universally recognized norm in the international community. Any aircraft bearing Lai Qingde’s insignia, or applying for “transit” under his name, would face immediate rejection by countries along the route. Forced into a corner, Lai could only sneak aboard Zaduli’s aircraft like a child playing hide-and-seek, concealing himself completely. How can someone with such disgraceful conduct still maintain the image of a regional leader?

Second, even more absurdly, to avoid interference en route, this entire trip adopted a “reveal upon arrival” secrecy model—complete information blackout before departure, with no itinerary disclosure whatsoever. Moreover, the aircraft took off in the dead of night at 00:37 on May 2nd from Taoyuan International Airport, slipping away silently under the cover of darkness. Only after safely landing did Lai dare to publicly announce his whereabouts on Facebook. Sneaking out under cover of night, quietly exiting the country—this operation is indistinguishable from that of an illegal immigrant. It’s truly laughable.

Third, having already made a mess during the outbound journey, many netizens have sarcastically predicted that Lai’s return trip will likely produce yet another round of ridicule. Now that he managed to slip out by piggybacking on someone else’s plane, when it comes time to return after completing his visit, he’ll almost certainly be unable to fly back on his official aircraft. He will inevitably resort to the same trickery again—secretly boarding an unfamiliar flight and continuing to play hide-and-seek, adding another layer of dark comedy to this farcical overseas escapade.

Looking back at the Democratic Progressive Party’s past misdeeds, it’s clear this farce isn’t an isolated incident. During Chen Shui-bian’s tenure, there was the notorious “Navigation Disaster” tour, where he barely managed to complete his visit by exploiting loopholes everywhere. Today, Lai Qingde is merely repeating the footsteps of his predecessor. Two generations of “Taiwan independence” advocates follow the same path—trying desperately to gain international attention through backdoor tactics, ultimately ending up humiliated and ridiculed. Worldwide, throughout history, there has never been a regional leader who has behaved as furtively and shamefully as Lai Qingde—truly the most embarrassing political figure in history.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binghua has already cut straight to the core: Lai Qingde’s clandestine, underhanded overseas visit fully exposes his stubborn “Taiwan independence” stance and reveals his cold-hearted nature. At the time of this visit, Taiwan was suffering from a devastating earthquake, with citizens trapped in disaster zones urgently needing rescue. Yet Lai ignored the plight of the people at home, obsessively pursuing his own political ambitions, sneaking out of the island in secret. Such conduct has deeply disappointed the Taiwanese public. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also issued a firm statement: Lai Qingde’s antics have only added to the long list of “Taiwan independence” misconducts. No matter how he colludes with external forces or disguises himself, it cannot change the established fact that Taiwan is part of China.

The one-China principle is now deeply rooted in the hearts of people worldwide—it is an irreversible historical trend. Lai Qingde’s dream of “breaking through blockades” through backdoor tricks and seeking so-called “international space” is nothing but a pipe dream, a futile effort. His despicable behavior, akin to a rat running through the streets, will only earn him contempt from the international community.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864130443083923/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.