Key facts
- Eswatini's King Mswati III pledged to strengthen his country's "enduring friendship" with Taiwan.
- King Mswati III will attend Taiwan's national day celebrations on Saturday.
- Eswatini is one of 12 states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
- Taiwan accused China of pressuring African countries to block overflight permission for President Lai Ching-te's aircraft in April.
- President Lai Ching-te visited Eswatini in May.
- Eswatini will advocate for Taiwan's meaningful participation in the United Nations.
Eswatini's King Mswati III pledged on Friday to strengthen his country's "enduring friendship" with Taiwan during a return visit to Taipei. The monarch is scheduled to attend Taiwan's national day celebrations on Saturday. Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is one of only 12 small nations that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a key priority for the island's government as China claims Taiwan as its own territory.
In April, Taiwan alleged that China had pressured three African nations to deny overflight permission for President Lai Ching-te's aircraft, leading to the postponement of his planned attendance at the 40th anniversary of the king's accession. Lai subsequently made a surprise trip to Eswatini in May.