MBABANE:His Exellency Lin Songtian, the Ambassador of the People Republic of China(PRC) to South Africa said his country will not engage with His Majesty King Mswati’s Government unless eSwatini terminate diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
The Ambassador said eSwatini, as a member of the United Nations have a legal obligation to abide by the UN Resolution 2758 of 1971 that endorsed the One-China Principle and warned that failure to do so might result to the country becoming a transgressor of international rules and be isolated from the international community. This is contained in a press statement sent to this Swaziland News and confirmed by Hu Zhengze, the third Secretary in the Chinese Embassy in Pretorial South Africa where Ambassador narrated reasons behind the decision to ban Swazis including businesspeople from travelling to Mainland China.
“There is only one China in the world and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, including Taiwan” said the Ambassador.
Thulie Dladla, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation said she was not ready to comment on the statement by the Chinese Ambassador.
“I am not yet ready Nkhosi to make any statement” said the Minister of the Crown.
But Government Spokesperson Percy Simelane when reached for comments, said China should respect the United Nations protocol of diplomatic engagements in the event they want to address certain issues with the country not to release statements from what he described as ‘off-side position’.
“Both China and eSwatini are members of the United Nations governed by the same protocols of diplomatic engagement when there’s an issue of concern between the two countries or more” he said
The government Spokesperson blamed China for ignoring these UN protocol of diplomatic engagement and rush to release the press statement.
“Eswatini will continue to monitor the situation hoping it is not about hummer and anvil diplomacy aimed at welding eSwatini into unjust submission” said the Government Spokesperson.
Reached for comments, Jeremy Liang, the Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan said the conduct of the Mainland China amounts to bullying and interfering in the affairs of the Kingdom of eSwatini.
“Eswatini maintains the policy of having no enemy and working with all the countries around the world. So, for China to try and destroy the business benefits is more like a blackmail, it’s wrong to target the businesspeople and private sector of eSwatini. Its interference on eSwatini domestic and foreign policies,” said the Taiwan Ambassador.
Speaking to this publication on the subject matter, Johannes Manikela, the Chairman of the Federation of Swazi Business Community (FESBC) Hhohho region said as businesspeople, they were affected by the decision by China to ban Swazis from travelling to that country.
“We should ask ourselves what we really benefiting from Taiwan because seemingly only one person is benefiting. Government must address this issue urgently otherwise companies will shut down” he said.
It has been disclosed that China expressed its willingness to engage eSwatini on the subject matter, however, Ambassador Lin Songtian maintained that “No diplomatic ties, no business benefits”
Musa Nkambule, the Chairperson of Sive Siyinqaba ‘Sibahle Sinje’ said as an organization, they fully support the UN Resolution on one China policy adding that there was nothing like the Republic of China on Taiwan.
“As an organization, our stand is clear, we support the United Nations resolution on one China. There’s only one China and there’s nothing like Republic of China on Taiwan, that island is part of China” he said.
His Exellency Lin Songtian, the Chinese Ambassador to South Africa