Taiwan President Lai Ching-te walks with Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini upon arriving in Eswatini, May 2, 2026. Taiwan Presidential Office. Image @ REUTERS
Eswatini has pushed back sharply against Beijing after China unleashed unusually blunt language accusing the kingdom’s leaders of being “kept and fed by Taiwan” — a derogatory expression evoking servitude — following President Lai Ching-te’s visit to the landlocked southern African nation.
Acting government spokeswoman Thabile Mdluli told Reuters the remarks were “deeply unfortunate and fall short of the standards expected in respectful international discourse,” adding that the criticism was “especially concerning when statements of this nature come from a country that positions itself as a responsible global actor.” She left no ambiguity about Mbabane’s position: “Eswatini must not be bullied and our sovereign decisions ought to be respected by all.”
The sharp exchange followed Lai’s return home on Tuesday from a trip to Eswatini — one of only 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan — where he attended celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne. The visit was anything but straightforward. Taipei says Beijing pressured three Indian Ocean nations — the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar — to deny overflight rights to Lai’s aircraft when the trip was first planned last month, forcing a dramatic rerouting.
Rather than flying on a chartered China Airlines jet, as is standard practice, Lai ultimately travelled aboard King Mswati III’s private Airbus A340, threading through airspace that skirted territory controlled by Mauritius and Madagascar on both legs of the journey.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian was withering in his assessment, saying Lai had “stowed away” to reach Eswatini — a characterisation Taipei swiftly rejected. The episode, Lin claimed, demonstrated that “separatist” activities were rejected by the international community and amounted to “a scandal and a farce.”
Beijing regards Lai as a dangerous “separatist” and has consistently demanded that other governments refuse to engage with his administration or grant him passage. China and Taiwan have long accused each other of deploying “dollar diplomacy” to court allies among developing nations, and Wednesday’s exchange added fresh heat to that enduring rivalry.
Far from being chastened, Lai used a regular weekly meeting of his Democratic Progressive Party to frame the visit as a diplomatic success. The trip “further deepened the friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini,” he said, and vowed that despite China’s “blockade and suppression,” Taiwan “will surely advance steadily onto the international stage” provided it remains “unyielding and united” and continues working “hand in hand with like-minded partners.” Lai, who firmly rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims over the island, cast the torturous journey as proof of Taiwan’s resilience rather than evidence of its isolation.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah