China strengthens economic ties with Eswatini despite diplomatic rift
China is deepening its economic engagement with Eswatini, Southern Africa's small, landlocked kingdom, in a move to expand its influence on the African continent.
This comes despite Eswatini's refusal to attend the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Taiwan’s ambassador to Eswatini, Jeremy Liang, expressed concern in an interaction with Semafor Africa over the growing presence of Chinese nationals in the country, warning that it could undermine Taiwan's longstanding relationship with Eswatini, a nation of 1.2 million people.
Despite the official rejection of the FOCAC invitation, members of Eswatini’s business community have reportedly indicated a rather warm reception of China by local authorities.
Eswatini and China drifted apart following the former's public loyalty to Taiwan, now the Republic of China, back in 2020. China’s ambassador to Pretoria, Lin Songtian, had noted in media interactions that there were neither diplomatic relations nor business benefits between the two countries.
“Such an embarrassing situation is the result of Eswatini defying the One-China Principle and maintaining so-called ‘diplomatic ties’ with the Taiwan authorities, a province of the PRC,” he said while announcing that Taiwan was no longer a recognised country
However, in 2023, Eswatini sent a delegation led by Guduza Dlamini, head of the country's mining authority, to China to engage Chinese investors. In the same year, the government awarded a $165 million contract to PowerChina, a Chinese state-owned company, to construct the Mpakeni Embankment Dam.
