Taiwan is hosting a larger-than-usual lineup of foreign guests for its National Day, a small but real diplomatic win for Taipei as Beijing keeps squeezing its international space.

• Six delegations with 156 foreign guests are in Taipei for the October 10 celebrations.
• Eswatini's King Mswati III leads the only state-level visit, and gets a military welcome and talks with President Lai Ching-te on October 9.
• Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith is among officials from countries that do not formally recognize Taiwan but were still invited to the reception.
• About 228 foreign guests will attend the reception in all, counting officials based in Taipei and their spouses.
• The African delegation alone brings 115 people, the biggest group by far.

Outlook: Expect Beijing to protest the visits, especially the US official's attendance, while Taipei points to the turnout as proof its friendships are holding.