China tells citizens to leave Taiwan-allied Eswatini

The Chinese government has instructed its citizens to evacuate Eswatini, a small African kingdom that remains one of Taiwan's few diplomatic allies. This directive comes amid security concerns in the nation, which China claims is a part of its territory and opposes Taiwan's attempts at international recognition.

President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan visited Eswatini on May 2, 2026, but Beijing reportedly pressured nearby countries to revoke overflight permits to thwart the trip. The Chinese foreign ministry's consular affairs department warned on Tuesday that "Chinese nationals and institutions already in the country should evacuate as soon as possible or relocate to relatively safer areas such as South Africa."

The ministry cited "rampant cyber fraud and online gambling criminal activities" as among the security issues plaguing the nation.

It remains unclear how many Chinese nationals are currently in Eswatini. The department emphasized that those who insist on staying or traveling to the area will face "extremely high security risks," and receiving consular assistance may become challenging. Taiwan is recognized by 12 countries, while China has managed to persuade others to sever diplomatic ties with the self-governing island. Notably, China extended a zero-tariff policy to all African nations except Eswatini on May 1.