Mbabane – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has revealed that the ex-Taiwan Ambassador to Eswatini Jeremy Liang allegedly clashed with him after being called to order for speaking ill of the Kingdom.
Dlamini revealed the fallout during an interview on the Kingdom Online Podcast, while explaining the circumstances surrounding Liang’s departure from Eswatini.
The Premier said the confrontation followed an incident in which Liang allegedly made remarks about Eswatini which he considered inappropriate.
Dlamini said the ambassador was called to order over the remarks, but reacted angrily instead of accepting the reprimand. “He got furious and he chose to fight with the PM,” Dlamini noted. The Prime Minister further said the incident happened during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Unpacking on the fallout between the two diplomats, Dlamini stressed that the incident occurred during a meeting at the PM’s office. Dlamini said that Liang spoke ill of the nation in a way that is not good, and he called him into order.
The Premier stressed that he told Liang that that is not the way things are done. Dlamini said after the clash, Liang then formed caucus against him. He alleged that he then followed articles tainting his image and parliamentary sitting when he was grilled. The PM stressed that he would then donate bags of rice to that particular individual.
The former ambassador’s departure in July 2026 had attracted attention, with Dlamini now providing an account of the tensions that had developed between the two.
However, the Premier said the confrontation with the ambassador did not mean that the Kingdom had changed its position towards Taiwan. “The policy of the government has not changed,” Dlamini said.
This, according to the Prime Minister, meant that the fallout involving Liang should not be interpreted as a diplomatic break between the two countries.
Eswatini and Taiwan have maintained formal diplomatic relations for decades, with Taiwan continuing to support the Kingdom through various development initiatives, donations and technical cooperation.
Dlamini also pointed to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s visit to Eswatini earlier this year as evidence of the continued relationship between the two countries.
Lai visited the Kingdom during celebrations marking His Majesty King Mswati III’s 58th birthday and 40 years on the throne. Liang subsequently left the Kingdom in July, bringing to an end his long diplomatic assignment.
Discussion about this post