Taiwan President Defiant on Eswatini Trip as China Labels Him a Rat

Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te arrived in Eswatini on Sunday for a state visit that has drawn sharp diplomatic protests from Beijing, which characterized the Taiwanese leader as a rat attempting to undermine China’s relations with African nations. The visit—Lai’s first to Africa since assuming office—underscores the continued diplomatic loyalty of the Kingdom of Eswatini to Taipei, even as China applies mounting pressure on the continent’s remaining Taiwan-aligned states.

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is the only African country that maintains full diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan), having never switched recognition to Beijing despite decades of pressure. China’s diplomatic offensive has been relentless: in recent years, Beijing has poached Taiwan’s allies in Burkina Faso, the Dominican Republic, Panama, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras, leaving Taipei with a shrinking circle of international supporters.

Beijing’s Foreign Ministry did not hold back in its characterization of Lai’s trip. Spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters that China firmly opposes any official interactions between Taiwan’s leaders and other countries, adding that the one-China principle is a universal consensus recognized by the vast majority of UN member states. In a statement that drew widespread attention, Chinese state media referred to Lai as a rat crossing the ocean to seek validation from a declining monarchy.

The visit follows an incident in which Lai’s original flight path was disrupted after what Taiwanese officials described as Chinese interference with the plane’s overflight clearance—a claim Beijing denied. Lai ultimately completed the journey via an alternative route, landing in Eswatini’s capital, Mbabane, on Sunday morning.

King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch, welcomed Lai with full state honours. The two sides signed several bilateral trade and cooperation agreements during the visit, including an economic and technical cooperation framework that will see Taiwan provide development funding and capacity-building programmes to Eswatini. A joint statement issued after the signing ceremony reiterated Eswatini’s recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state and its rejection of Beijing’s one China framework.

Eswatini’s position reflects not just historical ties but also genuine strategic interest. Taiwan has been a reliable development partner for Mbabane, funding hospitals, schools, and agricultural projects that have directly benefited some of Africa’s most vulnerable communities. For a small kingdom with limited international leverage, maintaining the Taiwan relationship offers tangible benefits that Beijing’s aid packages—however large—cannot always replicate.

Despite the warmth of the relationship, Eswatini has not escaped the economic consequences of its diplomatic choice. Beijing has subjected Eswatini to tariffs on key export goods, a policy widely interpreted as punishment for the kingdom’s refusal to switch allegiance. China is Eswatini’s largest trading partner, and the tariff regime has created headwinds for the kingdom’s textile and agricultural export sectors.

Taiwan, for its part, has sought to offset these pressures by deepening economic engagement with Eswatini and other remaining allies. Trade officials from Taipei said the agreements signed during Lai’s visit were designed to create new market access opportunities and reduce dependence on any single partner.

As Lai’s visit continues, observers across Africa and the broader international community will be watching to see whether Eswatini’s steadfast support for Taiwan signals a durable alliance—or the last gasp of a diplomatic relationship that China is determined to make untenable.