By Nkechi Eze
Amid intensifying geopolitical rivalry and heightened sensitivities over Taiwan’s global engagements, China has renewed its diplomatic push against countries maintaining formal relations with Taipei, placing Eswatini firmly in its crosshairs as the last African nation to recognise Taiwan.
Beijing’s latest remarks underscore its longstanding opposition to any form of official interaction with Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province, even as Taipei continues to seek international partnerships to bolster its global standing.
The Chinese government on Saturday called on Eswatini and a handful of other nations to reconsider their diplomatic stance on Taiwan, urging them to desist from what it described as support for separatist activities.
The position was conveyed by a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry following a recent visit by Taiwan’s leader, Lai Ching-te, to the southern African kingdom. Beijing said the trip has further aggravated already delicate cross-strait relations.
Chinese officials took particular issue with the timing of the visit, noting that it occurred shortly after an earthquake in Taiwan. According to the spokesperson, Lai’s decision to travel abroad during a period of domestic crisis raised questions about his leadership priorities.
Reaffirming its core diplomatic stance, Beijing reiterated that Taiwan remains an inalienable part of China and stressed that the One-China principle continues to be a widely accepted norm in international relations. It warned that efforts by Taiwan’s current leadership to expand its diplomatic footprint through bilateral engagements would ultimately prove futile.
The statement also accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of collaborating with external actors to advance what it described as a pro-independence agenda, cautioning that such moves would not alter the prevailing global consensus on Taiwan’s status.
Eswatini, which maintains full diplomatic relations with Taiwan, remains an outlier on the African continent, where most countries have aligned with Beijing. Its position has increasingly drawn scrutiny from China, particularly as cross-strait tensions continue to escalate.
China has consistently urged governments worldwide to adhere strictly to the One-China policy, which recognises Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China and rejects any form of official recognition of Taiwan as a separate state.
