MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly condemns China’s malicious claims and interference concerning President Lai’s visit to Eswatini; urges countries to uphold international order

Date：2026-05-07
Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

May 7, 2026  No.184  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) condemns and denounces in the strongest terms China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for issuing a series of statements on May 6 that were malicious, disparaging, and contravened international norms. The remarks were in response to media inquiries concerning President Lai Ching-te’s visit to Eswatini.

As a sovereign and independent country, the Republic of China (Taiwan) has the fundamental right to conduct legitimate and routine mutual visits and exchanges between heads of state with allied nations. Such visits are also standard diplomatic practice. 

The original flight plan for President Lai’s visit fully complied with international civil aviation regulations. Yet China used all manner of measures to preemptively obstruct the normal overflight of the chartered plane used by Taiwan’s president. This undermined the international order and the sovereignty of other countries. Then, following the conclusion of President Lai’s trip, China disseminated disparaging remarks concerning the legitimate and legal trip by Taiwan’s head of state in an attempt to distort the truth and mislead the public.

Furthermore, China’s inappropriate comments smearing the prominent political figures of Eswatini, Taiwan’s staunch diplomatic ally in Africa, amount to utterly baseless disparagement. They are deeply offensive to the sovereignty of Eswatini and the dignity of its head of state. Cooperation between the two countries is based on parity, reciprocity, and mutual benefit. China’s contempt for other countries’ sovereign choices is rooted in a hegemonic mindset. It once again demonstrates the malign nature of China’s long-standing intimidation tactic—coercing other countries into accepting its political stance. It also reveals China’s persistent disregard for the international order and universal values grounded in democracy, freedom, and human rights.

With regard to China’s absurd statement that countries deferring to China’s stance upheld the “one China principle” in refusing to issue overflight permits for President Lai’s chartered plane, MOFA reiterates that the ROC (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country; that neither the ROC (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is subordinate to the other; and that the PRC has never governed Taiwan. 

China continues to challenge the rules-based international order and objective status quo, openly flaunting an imperious mindset. MOFA calls on the international community to take the situation seriously and to recognize that China’s continued propagation of distorted historical narratives and statements, seconded by its actions, has severely undermined peace and stability in the international community.

MOFA emphasizes that no form of suppression can negate the factual existence of Taiwan or interfere with Taiwan’s determination to engage with the world. MOFA urges global democratic partners to recognize the pressing threat posed by the PRC’s authoritarian expansionism and to jointly safeguard international law and flight safety while maintaining the shared interests of the international community. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

May 7,  2026   No.183    
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) thanks the Formosa Club in Europe for issuing a joint statement on May 6 that expressed support for Taiwan. The statement was issued following the group’s spring gathering, which was held at the European Parliament. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu was invited to take part in the event as a special guest and deliver remarks. 
 
The statement reaffirmed the members’ commitment to deepening interparliamentary cooperation between Taiwan and Europe, backed Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, and recognized Taiwan’s indispensable role as a strategic hub in the Indo-Pacific. It also addressed the recent interference in President Lai Ching-te’s visit to Eswatini, conveying support for the international engagement of Taiwan’s democratically elected leaders and their freedom to visit Taiwan’s allies and expressing opposition to the manipulation of overflight rights to deny such freedom.
 
In addition, the statement emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and security across the Taiwan Strait and enhancing collaboration between Taiwan and the European Union. It affirmed Taiwan’s technological strengths in the advanced semiconductor, artificial intelligence, and drone-related industries, as well as its role in backing Europe’s resilience-building efforts and creating trusted non-red supply chains. 
 
Furthermore, echoing a European Parliament resolution of 2024, the statement stressed that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 did not take a position on Taiwan. It further reiterated strong support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and their meetings and mechanisms, including the upcoming World Health Assembly, adding that Taiwan’s expertise would significantly benefit the international community.
 
The spring gathering was attended by 25 cochairs and members of the Formosa Club from 14 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Croatia, Romania, and Kosovo, as well as the European Parliament.
 
Since its establishment in 2019, the Formosa Club has issued numerous statements and joint letters supporting Taiwan’s international participation and expressing concern over Chinese military threats against Taiwan. In October 2025, it held its annual meeting in Taipei for the first time, bringing together Taiwan’s friends in European political circles and fully demonstrating the members’ determination to back Taiwan. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3

All Hong Kong children born on or before December 31, 2020, are eligible to join the Primary One Admission (POA) System for admission to Primary One (P1) in September 2026 provided they have not attended any primary schools and have never been allocated a P1 place.

In line with the Smart Government strategy, the Education Bureau (EDB) has fully digitalised POA. Parents who have registered as POA e-platform (ePOA) users and bound their accounts to “iAM Smart+” may submit applications and check the results for discretionary places admission and Central Allocation online via ePOA. The EDB encourages parents to register with “iAM Smart+” (www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/reg.html(1) At the Discretionary Places Admission stage, parents can submit an application to any government or aided primary school, and the school choice is not restricted to the school net in which the child resides.
(2) Irrespective of whether the application is submitted via ePOA or in paper form, parents should submit only one application for their child. If parents have applied to more than one government or aided primary school, their application for a POA discretionary place will be rendered void. In addition, parents should not submit duplicate applications via ePOA and in paper form for the same child.
(3) When completing the POA Application Form, parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If a false address is given by parents to secure a P1 place for their child under the POA System, the application will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn. If a false instrument has been used or a false statutory declaration has been made in the application, the offender is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 14 years or imprisonment for two years and to a fine respectively under the Crimes Ordinance.
(4) Parents who are unable to submit the application form in person may authorise in writing a representative to bring along the supporting documents to the school on their behalf.
(5) Children who have accepted the offer of P1 places in Direct Subsidy Scheme primary schools will not be allocated P1 places in government or aided primary schools through the POA System. Even if places have been allocated through POA, those school places will be withdrawn.
(6) Parents could check results for discretionary place admission via ePOA from 10 a.m. on November 24, 2025. Schools will also release the discretionary places admission results on the same day. For applicant children who are not allocated with discretionary places, they will join the Central Allocation. The Schools Choice making dates for Central Allocation will be from January 19 to 25, 2026. Details will be announced later.In addition, suspected cases of using a false address for POA applications may be reported to the School Places Allocation Section by calling its hotline at 2832 7700.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3

All Hong Kong children born on or before December 31, 2020, are eligible to join the Primary One Admission (POA) System for admission to Primary One (P1) in September 2026 provided they have not attended any primary schools and have never been allocated a P1 place.

In line with the Smart Government strategy, the Education Bureau (EDB) has fully digitalised POA. Parents who have registered as POA e-platform (ePOA) users and bound their accounts to “iAM Smart+” may submit applications and check the results for discretionary places admission and Central Allocation online via ePOA. The EDB encourages parents to register with “iAM Smart+” (www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/reg.html(1) At the Discretionary Places Admission stage, parents can submit an application to any government or aided primary school, and the school choice is not restricted to the school net in which the child resides.
(2) Irrespective of whether the application is submitted via ePOA or in paper form, parents should submit only one application for their child. If parents have applied to more than one government or aided primary school, their application for a POA discretionary place will be rendered void. In addition, parents should not submit duplicate applications via ePOA and in paper form for the same child.
(3) When completing the POA Application Form, parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If a false address is given by parents to secure a P1 place for their child under the POA System, the application will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn. If a false instrument has been used or a false statutory declaration has been made in the application, the offender is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 14 years or imprisonment for two years and to a fine respectively under the Crimes Ordinance.
(4) Parents who are unable to submit the application form in person may authorise in writing a representative to bring along the supporting documents to the school on their behalf.
(5) Children who have accepted the offer of P1 places in Direct Subsidy Scheme primary schools will not be allocated P1 places in government or aided primary schools through the POA System. Even if places have been allocated through POA, those school places will be withdrawn.
(6) Parents could check results for discretionary place admission via ePOA from 10 a.m. on November 24, 2025. Schools will also release the discretionary places admission results on the same day. For applicant children who are not allocated with discretionary places, they will join the Central Allocation. The Schools Choice making dates for Central Allocation will be from January 19 to 25, 2026. Details will be announced later.In addition, suspected cases of using a false address for POA applications may be reported to the School Places Allocation Section by calling its hotline at 2832 7700.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 3

Following is a question by the Hon Ken Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (May 6):
      
Question:

There are views that our country’s development in aerospace industry has advanced at an unprecedented pace in recent years, with the achievements of the Shenzhou manned spacecraft, the Tiangong Space Station and the Chang’e lunar exploration programme garnering global attention. For the first time, the country has also selected payload experts in Hong Kong, illustrating the importance it has attached to the innovation and technology (I&T) development in Hong Kong, as well as recognising of the capability of our I&T talent. Moreover, the authorities’ further promotion of aerospace science and technology education will also help cultivate students’ scientific literacy and patriotism. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the South China Morning Post GBA-Asean Summit 2026 today (June 30):

Your Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay (Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister for Tourism and Environment of Timor-Leste), Your Excellency Secretary Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque (Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines), Ms Tammy Tam (Publisher of the South China Morning Post), Dr Daryl Ng (Chairman of the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation), Consuls-General and officials from around the world, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region