MBABANE – China has accused Taiwan of using financial incentives to maintain diplomatic relations with Eswatini, alleging that Taipei is employing what it described as “dollar diplomacy” to advance its independence agenda.
The accusations were made on Wednesday by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a media briefing in Beijing, following reports that Taiwan allegedly provided billions of dollars in funding to Eswatini before and after a recent visit by Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te.
According to China’s state-affiliated CCTV+ network, Mao claimed that media reports had exposed what she described as the lengths to which Taiwan’s leadership was willing to go in order to secure diplomatic support from Eswatini, Africa’s only remaining country that maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
“Their expensive dollar diplomacy, a combination of corruption, fraudulence, bribery and money for abuse of power has cost dearly the people in Taiwan,” Mao was quoted as saying.
The allegations centre on reports claiming that Taiwan provided Eswatini with NT$25 billion (approximately US$795 million) before and after Lai’s visit to the kingdom last month. The reports further alleged that income generated from projects linked to the funding would benefit a few people, while Taiwanese representatives stationed in Eswatini would also profit.
Mao further alleged that Taiwan’s continued diplomatic relationship with Eswatini was not intended to improve the welfare of ordinary citizens but rather to benefit a select group of individuals.
“Having Eswatini as a diplomatic ally is not about delivering real benefits for the people, but to line the pockets of the very few people who profit from it. This is political theatrics steeped in greed and graft,” she said.
The remarks come amid continued diplomatic rivalry between Beijing and Taipei over international recognition. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and opposes any form of official diplomatic engagement between the self-governed island and other countries.
Reaffirming Beijing’s One-China policy, Mao highlighted China’s growing economic engagement with Africa, noting that Beijing had this year extended zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China.
She said the move was intended to create new opportunities for trade and economic growth across the continent.
Eswatini remains Taiwan’s sole diplomatic ally in Africa, despite sustained efforts by Beijing over the years to persuade countries to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. Several African nations that once recognised Taiwan have since established formal ties with China.
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