Eswatini–Taiwan relations explained

Eswatini-Taiwan relations
Party1:Eswatini
Party2:Taiwan
Map:Eswatini–Taiwan Locator.svg
Mission1:Embassy of Eswatini to Taiwan
Mission2:Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Eswatini
Envoytitle1:Ambassador
Envoy1:Promise Sithembiso Msibi
Envoytitle2:Ambassador
Envoy2:Jeremy H.S. Liang

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.

History

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 recognizes 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 “we 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] Over 25 years it is estimated that aid is about two billion dollars.[12]

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.[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 中華民國外交部105年外交年鑑. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). May 2017. 2018-02-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20180129004249/http://multilingual.mofa.gov.tw/web/web_UTF-8/YearBook/105/PDF/%E5%A4%96%E4%BA%A4%E5%B9%B4%E9%91%91%E5%AE%8C%E6%95%B4%E6%8E%92%E7%89%88.pdf. 2018-01-29. dead.
  2. Web site: 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 . 公眾外交協調會 . 24 May 2018. 中華民國外交部.
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=udKYBAAAQBAJ&dq=Embassy+of+the+Republic+of+China+%28Taiwan%29+in++Swaziland&pg=PA107 Swaziland
  4. News: China angles for Swaziland to ditch Taiwan before major African summit. 1 June 2018. Reuters.
  5. News: 22 August 2018. eSwatini stands by Taiwan despite Chinese overtures. en-GB. BBC News. 17 July 2021.
  6. News: More African presidents went to China's Africa forum than UN general assembly . Abdi . Latif Dahir . 6 October 2018 . qz.com . Quartz Africa . 5 October 2018 . en.
  7. News: 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 . nan-tw . 2 February 2020 . 21 February 2020 . 東森新聞雲.
  8. News: 7 July 2021. King Mswati III, Africa's last absolute monarch, cracks down. The Economist. 17 July 2021. 0013-0613.
  9. News: Madowo. Larry. 14 January 2019. eSwatini - Taiwan's last friend in Africa. en-GB. BBC News. 17 July 2021.
  10. Web site: Eswatini King Mswati III visits Taiwan. Club of Mozambique. 7 June 2018. APA. 7 June 2018.
  11. News: 20 February 2021. Eswatini King recovers from COVID-19 with Taiwan's help. 17 July 2021. Nikkei Asia. en-GB.
  12. Web site: Staff . T. N. L. . 2024-02-01 . Eswatini Signs Declaration to Vow Tight Diplomatic Ties with Taiwan . 2024-02-11 . The News Lens International Edition . en-US.
  13. News: Yi-hsuan . Lu . Chin . Jonathan . Taiwan pledges funds to Eswatini after unrest . 9 September 2021 . . 4 November 2021 .