China urges citizens to leave Eswatini over security concerns

Eswatini remains the sole African nation among a small group of twelve countries worldwide that maintain formal diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). The kingdom’s ties with Taipei have endured despite mounting pressure from the People’s Republic of China, which has sought to isolate Taiwan internationally by courting former allies with economic incentives and diplomatic overtures.

The twelve partners—spanning the Pacific, the Caribbean and Central America in addition to Eswatini—continue to recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, allowing the island to retain a limited but strategic network of embassies abroad. For Eswatini, the relationship has translated into development assistance, scholarships and trade opportunities, while Taiwan views the partnership as a vital foothold in a continent otherwise dominated by Beijing’s diplomatic influence. The ongoing alliance underscores the broader contest for international recognition between the two Chinas and highlights Eswatini’s distinctive position in African foreign policy.