2023-09-06 08:17:14
Africanews.com) – Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday began a four-day trip to the African country of Eswatini, one of her island’s last 13 allies.
Ms. Tsai, who is in her last year as president, is visiting the country of 1.1 million people in southern Africa and overseeing the signing of agreements that will “lay the groundwork for our future relationship”, said she declared.
Since Ms Tsai took office in 2016, China has begun to pressure countries that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan to change their official recognition of Taiwan in favor of China.
Beijing has managed to poach 9 countries, leaving Taiwan with only 13 countries that recognize its statehood.
Taiwan’s most recent diplomatic loss was that of Honduras, which switched recognition to Beijing in March. Taiwan is a self-governing island claimed by China.
The two sides have been in conflict since 1949, when the Communist Party won the civil war once morest the Nationalists.
Eswatini was rocked by pro-democracy protests in 2021, which were violently put down, according to reports.
Ms Tsai is expected to stay in the small, landlocked kingdom until Thursday to celebrate the 55th anniversary of its independence, as well as 55 years of bilateral relations.
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