Eswatini king pledges to strengthen ‘enduring friendship’ with Taiwan

King Mswati III of Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has vowed to bolster the "enduring friendship" between his nation and Taiwan during a recent visit to Taipei. This trip came in the wake of President Tsai Ing-wen's May visit to Eswatini, which China had attempted to impede due to the island country's ties with Taiwan. King Mswati III is scheduled to participate in Taiwan's National Day celebrations on Saturday.

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is one of the 12 small countries, primarily located in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Strengthening ties with these nations is a priority for Taiwan, which China considers to be part of its territory. In April, Taiwan accused China of pressuring three other African nations into blocking overflight permission for Tsai's aircraft, leading to a delay in her plans to join the king's 40th accession anniversary celebrations.

Despite the pressure, Tsai managed to travel to Eswatini in May, employing the "arrive, then announce" strategy typically seen in visits to conflict zones, such as Ukraine. Speaking at the welcome ceremony in Taipei's Liberty Square, the king emphasized that Eswatini would continue to champion Taiwan's involvement in the United Nations, which it is ineligible for due to Beijing's objections.

King Mswati III stated that the two countries share a deep appreciation for their "enduring friendship and cooperation" and expressed their anticipation for strengthening these bonds for the benefit of their peoples.

Although China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the king's visit, the April incident marked the first time a Taiwan president had canceled a foreign trip due to denied airspace access. This move was seen as a new Chinese strategy to restrict Taiwan's international connections. The United States, European Union, and Britain expressed concern over the matter at the time.

In May, Tsai's return flight to Taipei utilized a route that bypassed airspace controlled by Mauritius and Madagascar, two of the countries Taiwan alleged were pressured by China to deny him airspace access. China has also condemned Eswatini's leaders for being "kept and fed" by Taiwan.