MBABANE — China has urged its citizens and institutions in Eswatini to leave the country as soon as possible, citing what Beijing described as a complex security environment and extremely high public-safety risks.
In a security advisory issued by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chinese nationals currently in Eswatini were told to evacuate or relocate to relatively safer areas, including neighboring South Africa. Beijing cited what it described as widespread telecommunications fraud, illegal online gambling and other public-security concerns.
Chinese authorities also warned that people who choose to remain in or travel to Eswatini could face significant security risks and that access to consular assistance could be affected in an emergency.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the advisory followed a careful assessment of the security situation, while emphasizing that issuing travel warnings is a normal practice used by governments to protect their citizens overseas.
However, the move has attracted considerable attention because Eswatini is the only African country that maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Taiwan considers the relationship with Eswatini an important partnership, while Beijing regards Taiwan as part of China and opposes its international diplomatic activities.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te visited Eswatini in May, a trip that Beijing strongly criticized. The timing of the latest Chinese security warning has therefore prompted speculation about whether wider geopolitical tensions between China and Taiwan are influencing relations with Eswatini. Beijing, however, has not officially linked the travel advisory to Taiwan.
The Eswatini government has rejected the suggestion that the country presents an exceptional or widespread security threat, saying the characterization is not supported by the facts on the ground.
The security warning also comes after Eswatini authorities carried out major operations against suspected online gambling, cyber-fraud and other criminal networks, including arrests of foreign nationals. International law-enforcement cooperation has been involved in some of those investigations.
China’s decision could have diplomatic and economic implications for Eswatini, particularly because Chinese nationals and businesses have a presence in sectors including retail, textiles and restaurants. Reports indicate that more than 200 Chinese nationals are in the country.
The development highlights the complicated relationship between China, Taiwan and Eswatini, with security concerns now intersecting with a long-running diplomatic dispute over Taiwan’s international recognition.
For now, Beijing maintains that the evacuation recommendation is based on security concerns, while Eswatini has rejected the characterization of the country as facing an extreme general security threat.
