By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Percy Simelane,the King’s Spokesperson says, eSwatini took a decision to stand with the Republic of China on Taiwan.

Responding to this Swaziland News on Monday evening when asked to comment or respond to a statement issued by the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) Mlungisi Makhanya who criticized the King for attending Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te inauguration, the King’s Spokesperson consistently maintained that, eSwatini took a decision to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan and that decision stands.

“It’s not a secrete that Eswatini has diplomatic relations with the Republic of China,Taiwan based on national interest.The leadership that is responsible for championing the Nation’s destiny is constitutionally in power and it shall always be prepared to listen to the people of Eswaini but not to unconstitutional individual opinions on the streets.For it to lead Eswatini is a Constitutional responsibility and not a duty that can be delegated to anyone,let alone formations that have no Constitutional authority to define the destiny of the people of Eswatini. As a country we have made a sovereign choice to partner with Taiwan,and we shall stand by it.Like all the countries of the world,Eswatini has a right to send it’s delegations to countries with which it has diplomatic ties with.Truth be told; Eswatini is not about to apologize to any country or formation for exercising its right to choice,” said the King’s Spokesperson.

On another note, Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) condemned the King’s decision to disregard the United Nations(UN) Resolution 2758 of 1971 that endorsed the One China principle.

“The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) would like to condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the tone-deaf King Mswati III for attending the synthetic ‘inauguration’ of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader as a ‘President’ of the Taiwan province. As a responsible political party, PUDEMO issued a statement warning King Mswati III against travelling to Taiwan to attend the so-called inauguration. We did this on account of the indisputable fact that Taiwan is but a part of the People’s Republic of China and therefore incapable of installing a President, for CHINA has a President and that President is none but His Excellency President Xi Jinping”,he said.

The PUDEMO President further mentioned that, Taiwan “has belonged to China since ancient times”, adding that PUDEMO will continue to support the recovery of all previously and unjustly lost Chinese territories including the realization of China’s complete reunification efforts as it remains the shared aspiration of all sons and daughters of the Chinese Nation.

“The text and spirit of both The Cairo Declaration and The Postdam Proclamation are inviolable and need to be fully respected by all states globally.This historic mission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is supported by all progressive organisations, democracy, freedom, prosperity, peace, and unity loving people of the world. King Mswati III continues to allow the sacred sovereignty of our country to be abused by external forces who are hellbent in trying to exploit Taiwan to contain China and to prevent the Chinese nation from achieving complete reunification and halt the process of Chinese national unity”, said the PUDEMO President through a statement sent to this publication on Monday.

King Mswati is in Taiwan,attending President elect William Lai Ching-te inauguration,the King travelled and landed safely in Taiwan despite the security threat as China was conducting a military operation on the Taiwan airspace.

But eSwatini pro-democracy groups continue to call upon the authorities to terminate ties with the Chinese Taiwan Province and establish diplomatic relations with People’s Republic of China(PRC).