Swaziland’s King Mswati III has called on the United
Nations to admit Taiwan to the organisation. It came in the week that the
country delivered him a multi-million-dollar
private A340 Airbus jet and paid
US$1.3 million towards the cost of his 50th
birthday celebrations.
Taiwan also promised Swaziland development aid costing
millions of US dollars.
In return the King wined and dined Taiwan President Tsai
Ing-wen, awarded her a medal and spoke publicly in her support at his 50th
birthday celebration.
King Mswati rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s
last absolute monarch.
Taiwan, which calls itself the Republic
of China on Taiwan, is not recognised by the UN because the People’s Republic
of China claims the territory as its own.
The Observer on
Saturday, a newspaper in Swaziland in effect owned by the King, reported
(21 April 2018), ‘The King said the Taiwanese have done a great job
in the country, especially with their assistance in establishing a Royal
Science and Technology Park, constructing the International Convention Centre
and Five Star Hotel (ICCFISH) as well as the Mbabane Government Hospital’s
Out-patient Department (OPD). He also recognised their contribution to the
country’s health, agriculture and vocational sectors.’
King Mswati took delivery of a A340 Airbus jet the week before his
birthday. It had previously been owned by China Airlines in Taiwan. The
purchase price of the 17-year-old jet was US$13.2 million, but with upgrades
the cost is reportedly
about US$30 million. Media in Swaziland have reported that Taiwan
helped in the purchase and facilitated a good price, but the details of this
arrangement have not been made public.
Taiwan wants to join the UN and Swaziland has a vote
to support it. Because the
People’s Republic of China does not want Taiwan in the UN, only
20 countries in the world recognise Taiwan. Those, like Swaziland, that do get
‘friendship’,
usually in the form of development aid or hotel trips to Taiwan for newspaper
editors and politicians. King Mswati is to visit Taiwan in June 2018.
Taiwanese companies have set up textile factories in
Swaziland and have become known for their
poor pay and working conditions.
See also
‘SLAVE
LABOUR’ AT TEXTILE FACTORY
https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/slave-labour-at-textile-factory.html
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