Taiwan President to Strengthen Ties with Eswatini through Upcoming Visit
Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen, is scheduled to visit Eswatini, its sole African ally, with the aim of bolstering their bilateral relations. The visit, set to take place from September 5 to 7, will coincide with the celebrations of the country’s independence day and King Mswati III’s birthday.
This trip holds particular significance as it marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Notably, Taiwan faces opposition from China, which considers Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes its pursuit of independent international relations. Out of the 13 countries that maintain official ties with Taiwan, Eswatini is the only African nation.
While some might speculate about the visit’s timing in relation to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to South Africa, Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Roy Lee clarified that President Tsai’s visit is not intended to rival this event.
This visit is President Tsai’s second to Eswatini, her previous one being in 2018. Notably, Eswatini remains a unique African ally for Taiwan, as it continues to uphold diplomatic relations despite Burkina Faso’s shift to recognize China in 2018.
