A tiny African country has angered China, which it accuses of bucking the course of history
China said on Wednesday that leaders of Eswatini, one of Africa's smallest states, are being “maintained and fed” by Taiwan, using unusually harsh language to condemn the tiny southern African kingdom for hosting Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, Reuters reports.
China and Taiwan have long accused each other of “dollar diplomacy,” suggesting they offer support to developing countries in exchange for adopting diplomatic positions. These generally relate to the recognition or statehood of Taiwan, a democratically governed island that China claims as its territory.
The latest criticism of China came after Lai returned home on Tuesday from a surprise visit to Eswatini, the country better known as Swaziland, which he officially changed hands in 2018.
This country, with a territory of no more than 18,000 square kilometers, maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Only 11 other countries around the world do this on an official level.
Beijing considers Lai a “separatist” and has asked other countries to refuse to have relations with his government or host him.
Lai's government has accused China of forcing three Indian Ocean states – Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar – to deny overflight permission for its aircraft when it originally planned last month to attend the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III's ascension to the throne.
Aceste, the king of Eswatini, is considered the last absolute monarch in Africa and one of the last in the world.
China strongly condemned President Lai's visit to the African country
Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said President Lai “sneaked in” to reach Eswatini and that this showed that the “separatist” activities were rejected by the international community and were “a scandal and a farce”.
“Some politicians in Eswatini, groomed and nurtured by Taiwan, have given space to Taiwan's independence forces – this goes against the course of history, and China strongly condemns it,” Lin added at a press conference on Wednesday.
In his comments he also used a pejorative expression that refers to a person in servitude to another or used as a lackey.
Taiwan's government was in a state of celebration after Lai managed to reach Eswatini and then return via a circuitous route, avoiding airspace controlled by Mauritius and Madagascar.
Instead of traveling on a chartered plane from Taiwan's China Airlines, as had been originally planned according to usual practice, Lai flew on the African king's private A340 jet.
Lai said on Wednesday that the visit further deepened the friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini.
Despite the “blockade and repression” imposed by China, Taiwan “will surely advance steadily on the international stage” as long as it remains steadfast and united and works closely with partners who share the same values, the Taiwanese president added at a weekly meeting of his political party.
