By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. China must strengthen travel and trade restrictions against eSwatini, a Kingdom that advocates for the recognition of it’s Province-Taiwan as an independent State.
But apart from the travel restrictions, China must also consider engaging South Africa at diplomatic level as high profile people within the eSwatini political hierarchy who were denied visas to travel to China for business, subsequently used South African companies as a conduit to benefit.
This means eSwatini under the leadership of King Mswati, wants to maintain the diplomatic relations with the Chinese Province in complete violation of the United Nations Resolution 2758 of 1971 but, continue to benefit from China’s fastest developing economy, this is the highest level of hypocrisy.
It is very unfortunate, other emaSwati with different political views “are persecuted merely for visiting China”, they were accused of plotting against eSwatini while those in power were visiting China for business to improve their lives by exploring opportunities without political restrictions.
But this tendency of politicizing mere China visits is driven by Taiwan through its Eswatini Embassy, any politically inclined eSwatini citizen who visits China is placed under State surveillance.
Our country has been colonized, controlled and held hostage by a mere Province of another country just because King Mswati and those around him are benefiting personally.
African countries are developing after establishing diplomatic relations with China but, eSwatini is holding on to Taiwan because the Monarchy is benefiting at the expense of the poor and financially struggling emaSwati.
The propaganda suggesting that, China is placing African countries on a debt trap is meant to discourage and undermine the warm diplomatic relations that benefits both China and African countries under a “win-win” situation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping must consider engaging South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, suffocating Mswati’s regime by imposing travel and trade restrictions will not work if those in power are benefiting from China through trade agreements with South Africa and other continental organizations.
Eswatini is a member of the South African Customs Union(SACU), the African Union(AU), the newly established African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA), the Common Monetary Area(CMA), the Southern African Development Community(SACU) and, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa(COMESA) among other organizations.
This means the collective trade agreements signed by China with some of these organizations, will benefit eSwatini King Mswati through the back-door diplomacy.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
