Eswatini Rejects China's Security Warning Amid Taiwan Diplomatic Dispute

Eswatini has rejected China's warning for its citizens to leave the country, insisting that it will not be coerced, disadvantaged or destabilised because of its foreign policy choices.

The Eswatini government made the remarks on Wednesday, a day after China's Foreign Ministry advised Chinese nationals and institutions in the country to evacuate or move to safer areas, including neighbouring South Africa.

Beijing cited what it described as “rampant cyber fraud and online gambling criminal activities” as part of its security concerns.

Diplomatic Tensions Over Taiwan

The warning comes against the backdrop of a long-running diplomatic dispute between China and Eswatini.

Eswatini is one of only 12 countries that continue to recognise Taiwan, despite sustained efforts by Beijing to persuade governments to sever diplomatic relations with Taipei.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te visited Eswatini in May, with Taipei accusing China of attempting to disrupt the trip by pressuring neighbouring countries to withdraw flyover permissions.

China has also imposed a notable trade restriction on Eswatini. On May 1, Beijing extended a zero-tariff policy to African countries but excluded the southern African kingdom.

Eswatini's government said China's characterisation of the country as a security risk was unsupported and regrettable.

China Urges Citizens to Leave

China's consular affairs department issued the warning on Tuesday through a statement shared on WeChat.

The ministry advised Chinese nationals and institutions already in Eswatini to leave as soon as possible or relocate to comparatively safer areas such as South Africa.

It warned that those who chose to travel to or remain in the country could face “extremely high security risks” and that access to consular assistance could be affected.

The warning has raised questions over whether the security concerns are purely crime-related or are also connected to the broader diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Mbabane.

Chinese Community Targeted in Crime Crackdown

Eswatini does have an ongoing criminal investigation involving Chinese nationals.

According to a source at the country's commerce ministry, more than 200 Chinese nationals are living and working in Eswatini, including in the textile, retail and restaurant sectors.

Authorities have arrested at least 55 Chinese citizens this year as part of a crackdown on an alleged network involved in online gambling, extortion and cyber fraud.

The arrests provide a backdrop to China's stated security concerns, although the Eswatini government has disputed the broader suggestion that the country poses an exceptional security threat to Chinese nationals.

A Broader Diplomatic Contest

Eswatini's position on Taiwan places it in a particularly sensitive position in China's expanding diplomatic and economic engagement with Africa.

While Beijing has strengthened its ties with most African governments, Eswatini remains the continent's only country with formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

The dispute has increasingly extended beyond diplomacy into trade and travel, with China's tariff policy and latest security advisory adding pressure on the relationship.

For Mbabane, however, the latest response signals that it intends to maintain its foreign policy position despite the potential economic and diplomatic consequences.

The confrontation underscores the continuing competition between Beijing and Taipei for diplomatic recognition, with Eswatini remaining a significant if small focal point in that global dispute.