China advises its citizens to leave Taiwan ally Eswatini over 'security risks'
Eswatini is one of 12 countries, and the only one in Africa, that has diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
China's foreign ministry has issued a directive for its citizens to depart Eswatini, a southern African nation and an ally of Taiwan, citing "security risks."
The ministry's concerns include "rampant cyber fraud and criminal activities associated with gambling," though specific details were not provided. It recommended that Chinese nationals relocate promptly to "relatively safer" countries, such as neighboring South Africa.
Eswatini is one of only 12 nations globally, and the sole one in Africa, that maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which China considers part of its own territory.
On Tuesday, the *Times of Eswatini*, a privately owned news outlet, reported that 40 Chinese nationals have been detained since last month after being apprehended while attempting to leave the country. These individuals were initially arrested in March, alongside numerous other foreign nationals, during raids on suspected illegal online gambling operations in Mbabane, the capital city, and surrounding areas.
According to the news site, the group's lawyers had informed the attorney general and the home affairs ministry that their clients had admitted to immigration-related offenses and had paid court-imposed fines. The lawyers further stated that the 40 individuals were subsequently released by order of the High Court, rendering their re-arrest unlawful. The Eswatini government has not yet commented on the matter.
In its advisory, China warned that citizens who choose to travel to or remain in Eswatini would face "extremely high security risks, and the timeliness of assistance may be affected." The number of Chinese citizens residing or working in Eswatini is currently unknown.
China has consistently exerted pressure on countries to sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan. In April, Taiwan accused Beijing of attempting to obstruct President Lai Ching-te's planned visit to Eswatini by pressuring nearby nations to revoke overflight permits. This trip, originally scheduled for April 22-26 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Eswatini's King Mswati III's ascension, was canceled due to these developments.
Lai eventually visited Eswatini in May, though the method of his arrival was not disclosed. None of the governments involved had publicly announced the trip beforehand. Following the visit, Beijing's foreign ministry declared that Lai had become "an international laughing stock."
Earlier this year, China eliminated tariffs for all African countries, with the exception of Eswatini.