TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with Eswatini's Queen Mother Ntombi Tfwala (王母恩彤碧) on Sunday (May 3), continuing a state visit to Taiwan's sole African ally. Lai arrived unannounced Friday using secretive "Arrival then Announce" (ATA) protocols typically reserved for trips to war zones.
Lai told the queen mother that the warm reception from King Mswati III (恩史瓦帝三世國王) and the royal family made him feel "as if I had returned to a second home." He invited her to visit Taiwan again and said the trip would help deepen bilateral cooperation, according to the Office of the President.
The president also toured the International Conference Center (ICC) in the Ezulwini Valley, accompanied by the king and Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini (戴羅素). The Taiwan-funded, 45,000-square-meter facility (around 484,376 square feet) will serve as Eswatini's main venue for hosting international conferences, officials said.
The visit comes amid intensifying pressure from Beijing on Taiwan's remaining diplomatic allies. China announced on May 1 that it would grant zero-tariff treatment to all 54 African nations — except Eswatini, the only country on the continent that maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Analysts described the exclusion as a "strongly targeted political signal."
However, international relations scholar Yen Chen-shen (嚴震生) questioned the comparison. U.S. presidents used ATA protocols for highly dangerous conflict zones where terrorist attacks were possible, Yen noted, while Eswatini is a diplomatic ally with relatively stable security. Previous Taiwan presidents Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian, Ma Ying-jeou and Tsai Ing-wen all visited Eswatini without such secrecy, the analyst said.
During bilateral talks Saturday with King Mswati III, Lai signed a joint communiqué reaffirming the two nations' friendship. He also witnessed the signing of a customs mutual assistance agreement to simplify trade procedures. The Presidential Office said the two leaders discussed healthcare, bilateral relations, women's empowerment and economic cooperation.
Lai described two major projects — a strategic oil reserve and the Taiwan Industrial Innovation Park — as "the largest and most strategically significant projects since the establishment of diplomatic relations." The initiatives mark "an important milestone" in Taiwan-Eswatini cooperation, he said after receiving briefings on the projects.
King Mswati III said Taiwan's contributions to Eswatini's economy and social welfare "are too numerous to count" and pledged continued support for Taiwan's international participation. Eswatini is among just 12 countries worldwide that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory.
The trip has sparked partisan debate in Taiwan. Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) alleged that Lai traveled aboard an Eswatini government aircraft that lacks Taiwan's military-grade encrypted communication systems, creating what she called a "command vacuum" during the 14-hour flight. She said the government's comparison to U.S. presidential visits was "misleading."
Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Fan Yun (范雲), the party's caucus secretary-general, dismissed the criticism. "When Beijing is angry, it usually means Taiwan did something right," Fan said. She accused KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) and former Chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) of siding with Beijing by criticizing the president's visit.
Lai also held a video conference with his national security team while abroad, publishing images on social media to demonstrate continuity of government. He said the meeting ensured "zero time-lag smooth operation" of government and national security during his absence. Details of his return route have not been disclosed.
The visit sets a precedent that analysts say could reshape Taiwan's diplomatic approach. With the cross-strait diplomatic battleground extending to Africa and an upcoming U.S.-China summit on the horizon, any unexpected development could trigger geopolitical ripple effects, one analyst wrote in United Daily News. How Lai returns to Taiwan remains closely watched. ◼