China Tells Citizens to Leave Eswatini Over Security Concerns

China has advised its citizens in Eswatini to leave the country, citing what Beijing described as serious security concerns.

The Chinese government also warned its citizens against travelling to the southern African kingdom.

The development has attracted international attention because Eswatini is Taiwan’s last remaining diplomatic ally in Africa.

Reports indicate that China’s warning is linked to concerns surrounding security and law-enforcement activities involving foreign nationals.

The Eswatini government, however, has rejected China’s assessment of the country’s security situation and disputed the concerns raised by Beijing.

The disagreement adds a diplomatic dimension to an already sensitive relationship involving China, Taiwan and Eswatini.

Eswatini has maintained diplomatic relations with Taiwan while Beijing considers Taiwan part of China and opposes formal diplomatic relations between Taiwan and countries that recognise it.