MBABANE, Eswatini — Eswatini’s continued diplomatic relationship with Taiwan has come under renewed discussion as China expands trade cooperation with African countries through new tariff-free access arrangements.
Beijing recently introduced zero-tariff access for exports from nearly all African economies, strengthening its position as Africa’s largest trading partner and deepening long-term economic cooperation with the continent.
Eswatini remains the only African country that maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than the People’s Republic of China.
China’s approach to Africa has increasingly focused on trade facilitation, infrastructure development, and industrial cooperation, with many countries benefiting from expanded access to Chinese markets and investment flows.
The policy shift has sparked renewed debate in Eswatini over the country’s external economic relations.
The opposition party People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) has called for a review of current arrangements, arguing that closer alignment with broader African trade trends could enhance development opportunities.
“We are concerned that the current relationship between the monarchy under Mswati III and Taiwan is driven by narrow interests rather than the developmental needs of emaSwati,” said Brian Sangweni, PUDEMO spokesperson.
PUDEMO argues that greater integration with Africa’s largest trading partner could support long-term economic growth and expanded trade opportunities.
The government has consistently maintained that its relationship with Taiwan is based on sovereignty and long-standing development cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, education, and skills training.
These programmes remain active in supporting community-level development projects across Eswatini.
Across Africa, most countries have in recent years shifted diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing, citing economic cooperation and trade access as key factors in their decision-making.
Eswatini remains the only exception.
As China continues to expand its engagement with Africa through trade and development initiatives, the broader conversation around economic partnerships on the continent continues to evolve.
