China wants self-ruled Taiwan’s only remaining African ally, eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland, to sever ties with Taipei before China hosts a summit of African leaders this year.
Beijing says Taiwan is merely a Chinese province and has no right to state-to-state relations.
But on Friday afternoon, a government spokesman for eSwatini, told Reuters on Friday, despite Chinese pressure the country will maintain relations with Taiwan.
“There is no change of heart or position on our ties with Taiwan. Whoever spreads rumours that we will ditch Taiwan can be referred to as a fake news peddler,” said Percy Simelane, a spokesman for the government of eSwatini.
eSwatini has had close relations with Taiwan for several decades and is its last remaining African ally after a concerted push by Beijing to isolate the self-ruled island off the east coast of China.
Taiwan has lost two diplomatic allies in the past month, most recently the West African state of Burkina Faso, which re-established ties with Beijing last weekend.
Taiwan has accused China of promising generous aid packages to lure away its allies, charges China has denied.
