Lobamba – King Mswati III on Saturday received Taiwan President Lai Ching-te at Mandvulo Grand Hall, with the two governments signing a Joint Communiqué to strengthen trade and cooperation between Eswatini and Taiwan.
The visit came after a dramatic diplomatic standoff in which China pressured several African countries to deny Lai’s aircraft flight permits, forcing the cancellation of an earlier trip that had been scheduled for 22 to 26 April to mark the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne.
Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar unilaterally revoked airspace permits for Lai’s aircraft, with Taiwan attributing the decision to Chinese pressure. The trip was eventually rescheduled following what Lai described as “days of careful arrangements by the diplomatic and national security teams,” without elaborating on how he ultimately reached the Kingdom. 
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini welcomed Lai as he walked past a guard of honour upon his arrival. Taiwan’s delegation included Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and National Security Council Adviser Alex Huang.
The Joint Communiqué was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Senator Pholile Shakantu on behalf of Eswatini, and by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung on behalf of Taiwan.
Lai’s schedule in Eswatini also included the signing of a customs agreement. Speaking on social media before his arrival, Lai said: “Taiwan will never be deterred by external pressures. Our resolve and commitment are underpinned by the understanding that Taiwan will continue to engage with the world, no matter the challenges faced.”
He also praised Eswatini for “standing firm against various diplomatic and economic pressure, speaking out for Taiwan’s international place through concrete actions,” adding: “I hope this trip will contribute to even deeper friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini, thanks to closer economic, agricultural, cultural and educational links, as well as promote Taiwan’s international co-operation.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Senator Pholile Shakantu and Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung sign the Joint Communiqué on behalf of their respective governments during Saturday’s bilateral meeting at Mandvulo Grand Hall. | Photo: Eswatini Financial Times
China, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory with no right to state-to-state relations, described the visit as a “stowaway-style escape farce.” Beijing’s foreign ministry later said Lai had become “an international laughing stock,” and urged Eswatini “to see clearly the general trend of history” and not “pull chestnuts out of the fire for a handful of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists.”
In a pointed economic move, China on Friday scrapped tariffs for all African countries, with Eswatini conspicuously excluded from the arrangement.
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, remains Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally on the African continent and one of just 12 states globally that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.
