China Urges Citizens to Leave Eswatini Over 'Security Risks'

Is China weaponizing diplomacy to isolate Taiwan in Africa or simply protecting its citizens with routine consular guidance?

Published 3 days ago

China Urges Citizens to Leave Eswatini Over 'Security Risks'

story

Above: King Mswati III of Eswatini at the U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sept. 24, 2025. Image credit: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-China narrative

China's travel advisory for Eswatini is a straightforward safety measure driven by rampant telecom fraud and illegal online gambling — the same kind of consular guidance governments routinely issue worldwide. Dozens of Chinese nationals were arrested during crackdowns on alleged illegal gambling operations, creating genuine legal jeopardy for citizens who remain. Framing a standard safety alert as geopolitical pressure ignores the documented criminal risks on the ground.

Business Insider Bastille Global Chinadaily

Anti-China narrative

China is using economic leverage to bully African nations into blocking Taiwan's basic diplomatic functions, turning routine airspace management into a political weapon. Beijing's praise for Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles for blocking Taiwan's presidential travel exposes the coercion behind the curtain. Eswatini's exclusion from China's zero-tariff Africa policy shows Beijing punishes countries for asserting their sovereignty rather than respecting their diplomatic choices.

Times of Eswatini Kurdistan24 The Washington Examiner