President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan is preparing for a significant diplomatic trip to Eswatini next week, reinforcing ties with the sole remaining African nation that formally recognizes Taiwan.
His visit is planned from April 22 to April 26. During his stay, President Lai will participate in events commemorating King Mswati III's 40th anniversary on the throne and his 58th birthday, as confirmed by his spokesperson, Karen Kuo.
This engagement underscores the challenges Taiwan faces in maintaining its international alliances, with the island currently holding official diplomatic recognition from only 12 countries, primarily located in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, such as Belize and Tuvalu.
Beijing, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province, actively opposes any official diplomatic relations between Taipei and other nations.
Unlike previous presidential journeys to Latin America that often included stopovers in the United States and drew strong criticism from Beijing, Lai's visit to Eswatini will be a direct flight, bypassing any transit through U.S. territory.
This journey marks President Lai's first international travel since November 2024, when he visited the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, with intermediate stops in Hawaii and Guam.
Previously, former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen made a similar visit to Eswatini in 2023.
Eswatini, a kingdom encircled by South Africa, has maintained a strong relationship with Taiwan, receiving considerable economic and medical assistance, including antiviral medications in 2021 to support the King's recovery from COVID-19.
The current visit serves to reaffirm Taipei's commitment to preserving its diplomatic partnerships amidst increasing diplomatic pressure from mainland China.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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