The 2024 China-Africa Cooperation Forum Summit was grandly held in Beijing, bringing together leaders from 53 African countries to discuss future cooperation directions.
However, the absence of Swaziland, a small southern African nation, became a major focal point of the summit, drawing widespread attention to China-Africa cooperation and the international political situation.
The summit, themed "Working Together to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future," further showcased the deepening China-Africa relationship.
Leaders from various countries explored future cooperation prospects, particularly how to promote high-quality bilateral cooperation under the frameworks of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.
The declaration issued at the summit outlined a grand blueprint for future cooperation, covering multiple aspects such as economy, culture, and peace.
It is particularly noteworthy that 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and African countries have highly praised China's adherence to this principle, maintaining a balanced and respectful relationship with Africa.
China and Africa reached important consensus in areas such as international peace and security, sustainable energy development, and multilateral prosperity, particularly regarding further cooperation on the Global Security Initiative.
These measures are significant for both China and Africa and contribute positively to global peace and stability.
However, Swaziland's absence at the summit has attracted widespread attention.
As the only African country with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Swaziland's foreign policy clearly conflicts with China's established stance.
China consistently emphasizes the inviolability of national sovereignty and core interests in its foreign relations. Thus, countries with differing positions on the Taiwan issue, such as Swaziland, naturally could not participate in the summit.
Swaziland's absence also indicates that China-Africa cooperation is not unconditional but is based on mutual respect and shared interests.
The premise of cooperation is that all parties must respect each other's sovereignty and interests, and Swaziland's relationship with Taiwan clearly contradicts this principle.
Swaziland's relationship with Taiwan dates back several decades, with Taiwan maintaining its special relationship with Swaziland through economic aid and diplomatic support.
However, much of this aid is politically motivated, driven by calculations to maintain diplomatic ties.
As Africa's only country maintaining so-called "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan, Swaziland has become one of Taiwan's few isolated partners on the international stage.
Yet, this diplomatic relationship has not brought substantial development to Swaziland. On the contrary, due to excessive dependence on Taiwan, Swaziland's political system has long stagnated, and the country faces numerous development challenges.
King Mswati III of Swaziland, on the one hand, accepts economic aid from Taiwan but, on the other hand, has failed to use these resources for national economic development, instead prioritizing the maintenance of personal power and enjoyment.
This phenomenon has not only exacerbated corruption in Swaziland but also left the country in a state of inescapable poverty.
Swaziland is the only country in Africa that still maintains an absolute monarchy, with King Mswati III controlling the political and economic lifelines of the nation.
Despite having abundant natural resources, these resources have not benefited ordinary citizens.
Instead, the king and a few nobles monopolize the country’s major economic resources, while the majority of the population struggles to survive on meager incomes.
Ironically, this country, which should have been "the Switzerland of Africa," has long remained below the poverty line.
According to the Human Development Index released by the United Nations, Swaziland ranks very low globally, with living standards far behind the world average.
More seriously, AIDS is rampant in the country, with an average life expectancy of only 35 years, and social development is caught in a vicious cycle.
To combat the spread of AIDS, Swaziland’s policies have often been absurd.
King Mswati III once ordered that AIDS patients be marked and absurdly banned women from wearing pants, believing it would lead to disease spread.
These policies are not only ineffective but also further expose the rigidity and backwardness of the country’s political system.
Meanwhile, the people of Swaziland have long recognized the drawbacks of the current diplomatic policy.
They realize that establishing diplomatic relations with mainland China is the correct direction for the country's development.
Many citizens publicly call for the government to end relations with Taiwan and seek cooperation with mainland China to find new avenues for the country's economic and social development.
However, the Swaziland government seems to ignore the voices of its people, continuing to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Although Taiwan authorities continuously provide economic aid, this aid fails to address Swaziland's fundamental problems, instead allowing the king and nobles to remain wealthy while ordinary citizens continue to suffer.
This situation further exacerbates public dissatisfaction, with many people taking to the streets to protest the government’s current policies.
They urge the government to change its diplomatic policy promptly, abandon reliance on Taiwan, and seize the opportunity to cooperate with mainland China to achieve national rejuvenation and prosperity.
As a unique entity on the African continent, Swaziland's future development direction is of great concern.
In today’s globalized and multipolar world, a country’s diplomatic policy and internal governance directly impact its development prospects.
If Swaziland continues to maintain "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan, it will inevitably miss out on valuable opportunities for enhanced cooperation with mainland China, further plunging into economic stagnation.
However, if the government listens to public opinion and shifts towards a closer cooperative relationship with mainland China, it may bring new development opportunities to the country.
Swaziland's absence from the China-Africa Cooperation Forum Summit undoubtedly brings new challenges to its future diplomatic choices.
Finding a balance between national sovereignty, international cooperation, and domestic development will be a key issue Swaziland needs to address in the future.
Swaziland’s diplomatic policy and relationship with Taiwan not only reflect the complexity of its internal governance but also reveal the realistic basis of China-Africa cooperation: cooperation can only be long-lasting and stable when mutual core interests are respected.
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