Taiwan President's Visit to Eswatini Strikes Nerve in Beijing

 Reuters published on 6 May 2026 an article titled "China Condemns Eswatini for Being 'Kept and Fed' by Taiwan in Travel Row" by Liz Lee, Ben Blanchard, and Lunga Masuku.

Beijing used strong language in condemning Eswatini, the only country in Africa that recognizes Taiwan, for receiving President Lai Ching-te.  Eswatini responded that Beijing's response falls short of the standards expected in respectful international discourse from a country that positions itself as a responsible global actor.

Comment:  Ouch! Score one for Eswatini.

Why Burkina Faso Switched Recognition from Taiwan to China

The Diplomat published on 16 January 2019 an article titled "Explaining China's Latest Catch in Africa" by Oana Burcu, University of Nottingham, and Eloise Bertrand, University of Warwick.

In May 2018, Taiwan lost one of its last allies in Africa when Burkina Faso switched its diplomatic recognition to China. While bilateral dollar diplomacy played a role, so did regional dollar diplomacy. Burkina Faso received an attractive financial package from Beijing. China also said it would not support the regional security G5 Sahel Joint Force (Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad) so long as Ouagadougou continued to recognize Taiwan. Once Burkina Faso recognized Beijing, it allowed China to fund the regional organization.

What Game is Gambia Playing with Taiwan and China?

Until 15 November 2013, Gambia was one of only four countries in Africa that recognized Taiwan.  On that date, President Yahya Jammeh announced that Gambia had cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan for reasons of "national strategic interest."  Gambia hoped to remain friends with the Taiwanese people, he said.  A day after making the announcement, Jammeh posted on Facebook that the People's Republic of China is the only China Gambia recognized diplomatically as the country goes forward.  There has been no indication that Beijing has recognized Gambia.

A report in the 19 November 2013 Taipei Times titled "Taiwan Declares Ties with the Gambia 'Terminated'," states that last January President Yahya Jammeh requested $10 million in cash, which is contrary to Taiwan's foreign aid policy.  Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Lin, said there is no indication that Beijing had anything to do with this unexpected decision by President Jammeh.  He added that should China and Gambia establish relations, "it would be a very serious warning to us."  Taiwan and China have had an informal diplomatic truce on the issue of diplomatic representation since the election of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou.