China and Taiwan are stepping up diplomatic sparring in Africa and South America, competing for the last remaining countries in each region that still recognize Taipei. China, citing its “one China” principle, has sought to peel away Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic partners, while Taiwan has offered economic support to maintain ties.
Lai arrived May 2 (local time) in Eswatini, a small kingdom in southeastern Africa, according to the BBC and other outlets. Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, gained independence from Britain in 1968. It has been Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa since Burkina Faso cut ties with Taiwan and established relations with China in 2018. The relationship is close: Prince Bulebenkosi Dlamini, a son of King Mswati III, completed undergraduate and master’s studies at Shih Chien University in Taiwan.
Lai’s trip was originally planned for last month to mark the king’s 40th anniversary on the throne and his 58th birthday. Taiwan’s presidential office said the visit was canceled then after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar denied Lai’s delegation permission to transit their airspace. Bloomberg reported that after the denials, Taiwan urgently asked Germany and the Czech government for a stopover for Lai, but was turned down.
Eswatini rolled out a red carpet at the runway and Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini greeted Lai. In a meeting with the king, Lai said, “Taiwan is a sovereign country and belongs to the world.”
Chinese authorities criticized the visit as “despicable behavior like a rat.” China has also recently introduced tariff exemptions for all African countries except Eswatini. Taiwan is pursuing projects in Eswatini including an oil storage facility and an industrial park. Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi previously said Taiwan would show how it plans to support Eswatini’s economy during Lai’s visit.
China and Taiwan are also locked in a tug-of-war over Paraguay, Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in South America. The New York Times reported May 2 that the relationship dates to 1957, when Chiang Kai-shek, Taiwan’s first president, and then-Paraguayan President Alfredo Stroessner aligned under an anti-communist banner. Paraguay is described as the most strongly anti-China country in Latin America, and it has drawn praise from the Donald Trump U.S. administration for countering China. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called conservative Paraguayan President Santiago Pena “a strong ally of the United States.”
Taiwan has provided extensive support to Paraguay, the newspaper said, including a presidential aircraft, helicopters, electric buses and trips to Taipei for Paraguayan politicians. Taiwan also helped fund construction of Paraguay’s National Congress building. China has pressed Paraguay to “quickly make the right decision,” but Taiwan increased its financial support, providing a $200 million loan for housing for low-income residents and a $20 million grant for hospital construction.
Taiwan currently has 12 diplomatic allies, including the Vatican and Haiti.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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