Eswatini rejects China call for citizens to leave

Eswatini's government said China's claim of a security risk was unsupported and regrettable after Beijing told Chinese nationals and institutions to leave the African kingdom as soon as possible or move to safer areas such as South Africa.

The consular affairs department of China's foreign ministry issued the advice on August 25. It cited security concerns including cyber fraud and online gambling and warned that people who travel to or remain in Eswatini face extremely high security risks and could receive slower consular assistance.

A commerce ministry source said more than 200 Chinese nationals were in Eswatini, working in textiles, retail and restaurants.

Eswatini said on August 26 that the warning was not supported. Authorities in Eswatini this year arrested about 200 foreign nationals, including at least 55 Chinese citizens, in a crackdown on an alleged illegal online gambling, extortion and cyber-fraud network.

The government said those arrests showed the vigilance and effectiveness of its law-enforcement institutions. It also said Eswatini would not be coerced, disadvantaged or destabilised because of its foreign policy choices and diplomatic relations.

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is one of 12 countries that recognise Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of China and opposes the self-governed island's international exchanges.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te travelled to Eswatini in May. Taipei accused Beijing at the time of trying to derail the trip by pressuring nearby countries to revoke overflight permits. China extended a zero-tariff policy on May 1 to all African countries except Eswatini.