Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung refuted reports that Eswatini, Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa, is planning to establish diplomatic relations with mainland China.
According to a compilation of Taiwanese media reports, Lin Chia-lung said in an interview on the 12th that the recent rumors regarding Eswatini actually stemmed from opinions expressed by a small number of participants in an academic setting, and do not represent the official stance of the Eswatini government.
He stated that the diplomatic relationship between Eswatini and Taiwan is very solid, and that the king is planning to visit Taiwan at the end of the year.
He pointed out that whether it is Eswatini's top administration or members of parliament, they have long strongly supported maintaining official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, so the public should not overinterpret the information concerned.
According to a report by South African online media Swaziland News on the 11th, Eswatini Prime Minister Dlamini recently invited renowned American economist Jeffrey Sachs to give an informal report to the country's cabinet. As Eswatini’s economic adviser, Sachs suggested that the country should establish diplomatic relations with mainland China as soon as possible to obtain economic benefits, and Dlamini is thus considering a change in diplomatic policy.
This May 1st, China implemented zero-tariff measures for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations. As Eswatini does not have diplomatic ties with China, it cannot enjoy these benefits.