China has closed all its embassies except in South
Africa to Swaziland (eSwatini) people seeking visas to visit the country for
leisure of business.
In a statement it said the move could ‘cripple’
Swaziland’s business and economic development. China is Swaziland’s second
largest trading partner.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) wants Swaziland
to end diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Taiwan broke away from China in 1949
and has been largely unrecognised in the international community since then.
Taiwan, which calls itself the Republic of China, is
not a member of the United Nations which has a ‘one-China’ policy that recognises
Taiwan is a part of China.
Swaziland is the only country in Africa and only one
of 17 in the world that recognises Taiwan.
A statement from Lin Songtian, the Ambassador of the PRC to South Africa, was published in the Swaziland News, an online newspaper.
A statement from Lin Songtian, the Ambassador of the PRC to South Africa, was published in the Swaziland News, an online newspaper.
The statement read in part, ‘The eSwatini people have
come to realize the fact that the long-existing immoral and abnormal
relations between their country and the Taiwan Authority, a region of
China, does not serve the fundamental and long-term interests of the eSwatini
and its people.’
It added Swaziland had been benefiting greatly from
business relations with the PRC while refusing to recognize the one-China policy.
‘Such an immoral and abnormal situation is unfair and
unacceptable to the Chinese government and people and cannot, shall not, be
allowed to continue,’ the statement said.
It added, ‘As a friendly gesture and transitional
arrangement, the Chinese government has no choice but to close all the
windows in the world, except the Embassy of the PRC in Pretoria for eSwatini
people both officially and privately to apply visas to Mainland China.
‘The responsibility for the difficulties and
inconvenience arose therefrom does not come from the Chinese side.’ It said the
door of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa was open for the Swaziland
government to talk and find a solution.
‘But one thing must be clear that no diplomatic
relations, no more business benefits.’
It added, ‘The
ball is on the court of eSwatini side. It is the right time for the eSwatini
government and people to make a right choice for win-win cooperation or
continue to keep silent to and remain the immoral and abnormal relations with
Taiwan, as a region of China.’
Thulie Dladla, the Swazi Minister of Foreign Affairs
and International Corporation would not comment on the statement.
Jeremy Liang, the Ambassador of Taiwan in Swaziland told the Swaziland
News the conduct of the PRC amounted to ‘bullying and interfering’ in
the affairs of eSwatini.
Swaziland makes a lot of its relationship with Taiwan.
In 2018 Taiwan gave
King Mswati III, the absolute monarch, US$1.3 million towards the cost of
his 50th birthday celebration. In April 2018 the King called on the
United Nations to admit Taiwan to the organisation.
Many Taiwanese-owned businesses in Swaziland, especially
in textiles, have been criticised for their poor treatment of workers who have
staged strikes
and other protests to draw attention to the situation.
In July 2014 a survey of the Swazi textile industry undertaken by the
Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) revealed workers were subjected to
harsh and sometimes abusive conditions, many of the kingdom’s labour laws were
routinely violated by employers, and union activists were targeted by employers
for punishment. More than 90 percent of workers surveyed reported being
punished by management for making errors, not meeting quotas or missing
shifts.
More than 70 percent of survey respondents reported witnessing verbal
and physical abuse in their workplace by supervisors.
In November 2018 it was reported students from
Swaziland studying in Taiwan were
being made to work in a frozen chicken factory for 40 hours a week to pay
for tuition and accommodation. If they tried to leave their university would
punish them and their condition were likened to slavery.
See also
Swaziland
students in Taiwan forced to work ‘like slaves’ in frozen chicken factory
Taiwan
first guest at King’s party
Swaziland
calls on UN to admit Taiwan
No comments:
Post a Comment