Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen is on a significant four-day journey to the African nation of Eswatini, one of Taiwan’s 13 remaining allies. Tsai, who is in her final year as president, arrived in the southern African country of 1.1 million inhabitants and presided over the signing of agreements that are set to define “the future milestones of our relationship,” as she put it.
Since Tsai assumed office in 2016, China has been exerting pressure on countries with diplomatic ties to Taiwan, urging them to switch their formal recognition from Taiwan to China. China has successfully wooed away 9 countries, leaving Taiwan with just 13 nations recognising its statehood. Taiwan’s most recent diplomatic setback was Honduras, which shifted its recognition to Beijing in March.
Taiwan, a self-governing island, is a contentious point with China, which claims sovereignty over it. This dispute has persisted since 1949 when the Communist Party emerged victorious in the civil war against the Nationalists.
Eswatini is an absolute monarchy, and a significant portion of its population lives below the poverty line. In 2021, the nation experienced pro-democracy protests, which were reportedly suppressed with force.
President Tsai is anticipated to remain in Eswatini until Thursday to commemorate the 55th anniversary of its independence and 55 years of bilateral relations with Taiwan. This visit underscores the enduring partnership between the two nations.
