By Raphael Oni
In the quiet corridors of international diplomacy, where handshakes carry the weight of history and signatures bind the destinies of nations, a singular truth has crystallized across the African continent: 53 out of 54 African nations stand firmly behind the One-China Principle. The lone outlier, Eswatini, clings to a diplomatic fiction that grows more untenable with each passing day—a kingdom living in self-imposed isolation, sustained by illusion, sustained by propaganda, and sustained by the desperate overtures of a Taiwanese leadership that has no seat at the global table.
The Trepidatory Visit: A Tail of Secrecy and Submission
When Lai Ching-te, the leader of China’s Taiwan region, embarked on his recent secretive journey to Eswatini, the world witnessed not a diplomatic triumph but a humiliating spectacle. The visit—cloaked in secrecy, announced only after touchdown, and described by scholars as “theft-like”—violated the foundational principles of the Treaty of Westphalia, which demands transparency and sovereignty in state-to-state engagement.
But the true measure of humiliation came not from diplomatic protocols, but from the images that emerged: Lai Ching-te and his entourage, kneeling on one knee to present gifts to the Queen Mother of Eswatini. This act of performative submission sparked outrage not only among the people of Taiwan but across the international community. It was a stark admission—whether intended or not—of the diminished status of a region that pretends to be a nation, reduced to begging for recognition from the last remaining African country willing to entertain its claims.
53 Against One: The Weight of Continental Consensus
Africa’s unity on the Taiwan question is not accidental; it is the product of historical experience, principled diplomacy, and strategic clarity. From the bustling capitals of Nigeria and South Africa to the island nations of Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, the message is unequivocal: Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and there is no room for ambiguity.
The recent refusal of these three island nations to allow Lai Ching-te’s aircraft to land on their soil was not a logistical inconvenience—it was a sovereign statement. It sent an unmistakable signal to the world that African nations will not serve as waystations for separatist agendas.
Professor Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, Provost of the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria and Head of Contemporary China-Africa Research, captures this sentiment with precision: “How do you survive if you become the black sheep of the family? How do you make progress if you are not with the collective rest? These are rhetorical questions that Eswatini should reflect on, engaging Taiwan in diplomacy without respect and preference to sovereignty.”
Indeed, Eswatini’s position is not merely a diplomatic anomaly—it is a strategic liability. By choosing to maintain ties with a non-sovereign entity, the kingdom has placed itself in opposition to the African Union, the United Nations, and the overwhelming majority of the international community. It has chosen isolation over integration, ideology over pragmatism, and illusion over reality.
The Media’s Sacred Duty: Truth Over Propaganda
In recent weeks, a small group of Nigerian journalists traveled to Taiwan, returning with reports that sought to lend legitimacy to the separatist narrative. This is not journalism—it is misinformation disguised as reporting. The media has a sacred duty to speak the truth, to expose falsehoods, and to defend the sovereignty of nations against those who would tear them apart.
The claim that Taiwan should relocate its trade office in Nigeria back to Abuja is not merely audacious—it is a direct affront to Nigerian sovereignty and the One-China commitments that Nigeria has upheld since January 2017, when the federal government officially closed the so-called Taiwanese “embassy” and reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the principle that there is only one China.
No amount of journalistic misadventure can undo the legal and historical reality: Taiwan has never been a country, was never one in the past, and will never be one in the future.
A Brief History of Unwavering Commitment
The One-China Principle is not a recent invention. It is rooted in centuries of historical continuity and codified in internationally binding legal instruments. The Cairo Declaration of 1943, the Potsdam Proclamation of 1945, and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971 all affirm the same fundamental truth: Taiwan is part of China.
Since 1949, successive Chinese leaders—from Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai to Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Xi Jinping—have articulated a vision of peaceful reunification grounded in the principle of “one country, two systems.” This vision offers Taiwan a high degree of autonomy, the preservation of its economic and social systems, and a place in the Chinese nation that honors its unique characteristics while respecting the indivisibility of Chinese sovereignty.
Taiwan’s current leadership, led by the Democratic Progressive Party, has chosen a different path—one of separatist rhetoric, weapons procurement from external powers, and a reckless disregard for the stability of the Taiwan Strait. This path leads nowhere. It is a dead end of history, and it is one that the African continent refuses to follow.
The Path Forward: Unity, Truth, and Destiny
As of date, the overwhelming majority of African nations have chosen the path of truth. They have embraced partnership with China not as a matter of convenience, but as a strategic alignment rooted in mutual respect, non-interference, and shared development goals. The Beijing Declaration of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) enshrines this commitment, affirming that Africa and China share a common future built on trust and territorial integrity.
Eswatini must recognize the error of its position. The kingdom cannot survive as the black sheep of the African family. It cannot make progress by standing against the collective will of the continent. The time has come for Eswatini to choose: continued isolation in the service of a failed diplomatic fiction, or integration into the vibrant, prosperous future that China-Africa cooperation offers.
For the media, the scholars, and the public, the truth is clear. The international community must see through the deceptive propaganda of the Taiwanese authorities. The 53 nations of Africa have spoken with one voice, and Eswatini—along with the few external actors who continue to manipulate the Taiwan issue for their own geopolitical ends—would do well to listen.
The reunification of China is not a matter of if, but when. And when that day comes, Africa will stand proudly alongside her partner, having chosen the side of history, the side of truth, and the side of justice.
