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China’s foreign ministry urged Eswatini, Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa, to “recognize the trend and make correct decisions” during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Eswatini is the only African nation not attending the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, currently being held in Beijing. Representatives from 53 African nations, along with regional and international organizations, are participating. The summit is expected to adopt an action plan to boost cooperation in global governance, security, trade, and investment for the next three years.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that “It is not in Eswatini’s interest to develop official diplomatic relations with the Taiwan region.” China views Taiwan as a breakaway province with no right to establish diplomatic ties with other countries.
In the same briefing, Mao commented on a separate issue, saying she had no knowledge of the recent charges against Linda Sun, a former aide to a New York governor. Sun was arrested alongside her husband at their Long Island home, accused of acting as an unregistered agent for Beijing. Prosecutors allege that Sun hindered Taiwanese officials’ access to high-level New York representatives and influenced state messaging to align with China’s interests.
