China: Beijing urges its citizens to leave Eswatini amid tensions with Taiwan

07:11

Beijing has recommended that its citizens leave Eswatini quickly, citing a deterioration of the security situation in this small southern African kingdom. Behind this consular warning lies a particularly sensitive diplomatic issue: Eswatini remains one of the few countries that officially recognizes Taiwan, at a time when relations between Beijing and Taipei are under significant strain.

A security alert with diplomatic undertones

Chinese authorities have issued an unusually firm call to their citizens present in Eswatini. In a statement released Tuesday on WeChat, the consular service of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended that Chinese citizens refrain from traveling to the country in the near future and urged those residing or working there to leave "as soon as possible."

To justify this directive, Beijing points to a security situation deemed concerning. Chinese authorities specifically mention the rise of criminal activities associated with online scams and illegal gambling. They also highlight elevated risks concerning public order.

This warning comes as Eswatini maintains a unique diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. The kingdom is indeed among the very limited number of states that still officially recognize Taipei rather than Beijing.

Eswatini, a diplomatic partner of Taiwan

Nestled between South Africa and Mozambique, Eswatini is a small kingdom in southern Africa whose diplomatic position holds particular importance for Taiwan.

Beijing considers Taiwan a part of its territory and refuses to allow the island to have independent diplomatic representation on the international stage. In this context, China has been trying for decades to persuade countries that maintain official relations with Taipei to move closer to Beijing.

Eswatini, in this regard, remains a persistent exception on the African continent. Its decision to maintain ties with Taipei gives it a special place in the diplomatic face-off between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

A warning issued after Lai Ching-te's visit

The timing of the Chinese announcement also draws attention. It comes about three and a half months after the visit to Eswatini by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.

This trip had already provoked a hostile reaction from Beijing. Chinese authorities regularly accuse the Taiwanese president of promoting separatist positions and view his international trips as attempts to bolster international recognition of Taipei.

The visit thus illustrated the strength of relations between Eswatini and Taiwan, despite the pressure exerted by Beijing on the last official diplomatic partners of the island.

Beijing prioritizes consular arguments

In its warning, China does not directly present its call for departure as a measure related to the dispute with Taiwan. The statement primarily relies on considerations regarding the safety of Chinese citizens.

This justification allows Beijing to frame the decision as a consular protection measure, while the diplomatic context gives it a broader significance. The message comes at a time when China is seeking to reduce Taiwan's international space and prevent the establishment or maintenance of official relations between Taipei and foreign governments.

For Chinese citizens present in Eswatini, the recommendation is nevertheless explicit: authorities are urging a swift departure and advising against any new travel to the kingdom in the near future.

A new episode in the diplomatic battle over Taiwan

Beyond the cited security risks, this decision illustrates the persistent sensitivity of relations between China and the few states that continue to recognize Taiwan.

For Taipei, maintaining these official relations is a major issue as Beijing continues its efforts to diplomatically isolate the island. For China, conversely, the presence of Taiwanese representatives in a foreign state remains difficult to accept in light of its one-China policy.

The call to Chinese citizens in Eswatini thus adds a new dimension to this rivalry. Behind a recommendation presented as security-related lies a diplomatic context where every official partnership with Taiwan is closely monitored by Beijing.