Taiwan president begins visit to sole African ally Eswatini

Taiwan: Tsai Ing-wen, the president of Taiwan, made a promise to work together to build an oil reserve facility before she arrived in Eswatini, according to her office on Wednesday( Sept. 6 ) in an effort to improve relations with the island’s final diplomatic ally in Africa.

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is one of only 13 nations to formally recognize Taiwan as superior to China, which asserts its own sovereignty over the area.

Tsai met with King Mswati III, Africa’s final overall king, after arriving on Tuesday.

According to Tsai’s office, they saw the filing of a memorandum of understanding relating to an investment fund for women, as well as an agreement of cooperation regarding the development of an Eswatini proper oil reserve facility.

In a video released by her business on Wednesday, Tsai stated that she was looking forward to the project’s successful completion so that we will be able to set up an important oil supply center around to make the supply of energy more safe in the future.

Regarding the memo, no additional information was provided.

When Burkina Faso switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 2018, Eswatini — which has struggled with fuel shortages in recent years— remained Taipei’s final African ally.

When the nation of 1.2 million individuals was still waiting for its first vaccinations against Covid-19, Mswati III praised Tsai for sending an anti-viral medication that helped him recover from the illness two years prior.

Tsai is making her next trip to the country, where she will take part in celebrations honoring the country’s 55th birthday, the king, and political ties between Taiwan and Eswatini.

On Tuesday, she expressed the desire for the two nations’ friendship to” remain and strengthen.”

Since taking office in 2016, Tsai has refused to acknowledge that Taiwan is a part of China.

Since therefore, Beijing has increased military force and kidnapped nine of Taipei’s political allies.