Eswatini–Taiwan relations

Eswatini–Taiwan relations refer to the international relations between the Kingdom of Eswatini and Republic of China (Taiwan). Eswatini maintains an embassy in Taipei, and Taiwan maintains an embassy in Mbabane.

Eswatini-Taiwan relations
Map indicating locations of Eswatini and Taiwan

Eswatini
Taiwan
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Eswatini to TaiwanEmbassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Eswatini
Envoy
Ambassador Promise Sithembiso MsibiAmbassador Jeremy H.S. Liang

History
Embassy of Taiwan in Mbabane

Eswatini recognized the Republic of China (ROC) over the People's Republic of China (PRC) on 16 September 1968, and have since maintained formal diplomatic relations with the ROC.[1]

Eswatini is one of 13 nations that recognize the ROC officially. In May 2018, Burkina Faso switched to recognize the People's Republic of China,[2] thus ending diplomatic ties with Taiwan, making Eswatini the last African country to recognize the ROC instead of the PRC.[3]

On the 2018 summit of Forum on China–Africa Cooperation in Beijing, China declared it does “hope that by the time the China-Africa cooperation forum Beijing summit happens, we can have a happy picture of the whole family”, i.e. it hopes to establish diplomatic relations with Swaziland before the summit begins.[4] The government of Eswatini has rejected these overtures from the People's Republic of China.[5][6] In response, China has turned up the visa restrictions on Swazis to force Eswatini to establish diplomatic links with itself. Declaring "No diplomatic relations, no business benefits." In response to the Chinese pressure on Eswatini, Ou Jiang'an, the director of the Foreign Ministry Information Department of Taiwan said "The ugly nature of the Chinese regime and its despicable means of suppression are contemptible, and it should be deterred by international public opinion."[7]

The Economist claimed in 2021 that Eswatini's relations with Taiwan are second in importance only to those with South Africa.[8]

Bilateral visits

In June 2018, King of Eswatini, Mswati III made his 17th[9] visit to Taiwan, after the President of ROC Tsai Ing-wen visited Eswatini in April.[10]

Taiwanese aid

Taiwan has provided economic aid to Eswatini, funding a rural electrification scheme and university scholarships.[11][9]

In September 2021, Taiwan announced it would be providing US$22.9 million in aid to repair schools, hospitals and other infrastructure that were damaged during the civil unrest.[12]

See also

References
  1. "中華民國外交部105年外交年鑑" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  2. 公眾外交協調會 (24 May 2018). "中華民國政府基於維護國家尊嚴，決定自即日起終止與布吉納法索的外交關係". 中華民國外交部.
  3. Swaziland, Mike Unwin, Richard E. Grant, Bradt Travel Guides, 2012, page 107
  4. "China angles for Swaziland to ditch Taiwan before major African summit". Reuters. 1 June 2018.
  5. "eSwatini stands by Taiwan despite Chinese overtures". BBC News. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  6. Latif Dahir, Abdi (5 October 2018). "More African presidents went to China's Africa forum than UN general assembly". qz.com. Quartz Africa. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  7. "中國限縮簽證報復史瓦帝尼與台灣邦交 外交部：醜陋本質、卑劣手段令人不齒" (in Taiwanese Hokkien). 東森新聞雲. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  8. "King Mswati III, Africa's last absolute monarch, cracks down". The Economist. 7 July 2021. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  9. Madowo, Larry (14 January 2019). "eSwatini - Taiwan's last friend in Africa". BBC News. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  10. APA (7 June 2018). "Eswatini King Mswati III visits Taiwan". Club of Mozambique. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  11. "Eswatini King recovers from COVID-19 with Taiwan's help". Nikkei Asia. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  12. Yi-hsuan, Lu; Chin, Jonathan (9 September 2021). "Taiwan pledges funds to Eswatini after unrest". Taipei Times. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
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