China Blasts Eswatini Over Visit of Taiwan Leader's

(MENAFN) Beijing has launched a sharp diplomatic offensive against Eswatini after the southern African kingdom welcomed Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, accusing the tiny monarchy of providing a platform for separatism while simultaneously freezing it out of a sweeping continent-wide trade initiative.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters Wednesday that China firmly opposes Eswatini's decision to receive Lai, who touched down Saturday for a three-day visit — a trip that Taipei said was complicated when several African nations revoked overflight permits under apparent Chinese pressure.

"Some politicians in Eswatini are kept and fed by Taiwan and provide space for 'Taiwan independence,' going against the tide of history. China strongly condemns this," Lin said.

Lin escalated further, personally accusing Lai of undermining the sovereignty of third-party nations, claiming the Taiwanese leader had "sneaked" into Eswatini by concealing passenger information and later forced his way through foreign airspace after certain states denied him transit rights. The visit, Lin argued, exposes "Taiwan independence" separatism as "shady business" and "unacceptable to the international community," reiterating that there is "but one China in the world" and that Taiwan is an "inalienable part" of China.

Taipei pushed back firmly, maintaining that Lai's itinerary was conducted lawfully and consistent with standard diplomatic protocol, and that travel details were withheld until after landing solely for security purposes.

Eswatini itself refused to absorb the criticism quietly. The kingdom's acting government spokeswoman, Thabile Mdluli, described Beijing's remarks as "deeply unfortunate," saying they "fall short" of the standards of respectful diplomacy, according to media.

The landlocked kingdom — Africa's last absolute monarchy and formerly known as Swaziland — holds the distinction of being Taiwan's sole remaining diplomatic ally on the continent and one of only 12 countries globally that maintain formal ties with Taipei. Beijing claims Taiwan as sovereign Chinese territory and categorically opposes any official engagement between the island and foreign governments; Taipei rejects that claim entirely.

The diplomatic confrontation is unfolding against a backdrop of deliberate Chinese economic pressure. On May 1, Beijing announced it had extended zero-tariff treatment to imports from all 53 African nations with which it holds diplomatic relations — conspicuously leaving Eswatini as the only country on the continent excluded from the arrangement.

The policy, first unveiled by President Xi Jinping in February, broadens duty-free access beyond 33 least-developed African nations to an additional 20 countries for a two-year period — a move Beijing frames as a bid to boost African exports and correct trade imbalances. For Eswatini, the message is unmistakable: diplomatic loyalty to Taipei carries a measurable economic price.

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