Taiwan's president arrived in Eswatini for an official visit after blaming China for the cancellation of a previously planned trip to attend a digital rights conference in Zambia.

The RightsCon conference, organized by digital rights group Access Now, was reportedly canceled after Zambian officials requested that Taiwanese participants be excluded from the event. Access Now described RightsCon as the world's largest digital rights conference, bringing together activists, technologists, and policymakers to discuss internet freedom and human rights issues.

According to Access Now, Zambian authorities indicated that the conference could proceed as planned only if Taiwanese attendees were barred from participating. The organization did not immediately provide details about the specific nature of the pressure or timeline of events leading to the cancellation.

Taiwan maintains formal diplomatic relations with only a small number of countries, including Eswatini, as China claims sovereignty over the island and pressures other nations to limit their official ties with Taiwan. The incident reflects ongoing tensions over Taiwan's international participation in various forums and events.

The cancellation of the digital rights conference highlights how geopolitical disputes can affect civil society organizations and international gatherings focused on technology and human rights issues. Taiwan's exclusion from international events has become an increasingly common occurrence as China expands its diplomatic influence globally.