By Colani Khulekani Maseko.

MBABANE:Jeremy Liang,the Ambassador of Taiwan has blasted eSwatini’s largest and main political party,the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) after the political entity called for the province to be re-united with the People’s Republic of China(PRC).

This comes after Mlungisi Makhanya,the PUDEMO President released a press statement on Tuesday and condemned the recent Taiwan elections that were held outside the One China Principle.

“PUDEMO is of the considered view that the holding of these elections outside the framework of the One China Principle and its attendant One China, Two Systems concept is not in the best interests of the Chinese citizens who reside in the Province of Taiwan. PUDEMO contends that the best interests of the 23.5million Chinese citizens who live in Taiwan are well served by the full-scale re-unification of the Chinese people.PUDEMO views the victorious emergence of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), a separatist and secessionist party, as not only unfortunate but also complicating an already untenable geo- political state of affairs in relation to global stability and the future of Taiwan. We therefore urge the newly elected leader of the DPP to do the most sensible thing, which is to substantively engage in a sincere dialogue with the People’s Republic of China aimed at the re-unification and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.We further condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the posture of the eSwatini Government of cheerleading Taiwan away from the re-unification agenda and for maintaining diplomatic relations with the Province of Mainland China. In equal measure, we denounce the double standards by Taiwan of exercising multi-party democracy in the province while supporting and shoring up the tinkhundla dictatorship of King Mswati III in eSwatini.Lastly, we applaud the Government of the people of Nauru for becoming the latest country to officially abandon its diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favour of recognizing the One China Principle. This is indeed commendable and is what all nations of the world should emulate for broader global peace and justice”, said the PUDEMO President through the statement.

But Jeremy Liang,the Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan later told the Times of eSwatini that, he was not surprised with the PUDEMO statement but clarified that, this will not change the will of Taiwanese expressed through the ballot box.

“It is not surprising that PUDEMO’s statements align closely with those of China, as if acting as a mouthpiece for China. However, this does not change the fact that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country,” said the Taiwan Ambassador.