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TAIWAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR EMASWATI

16/09/2018 03:41:00 The Editor

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Sir,

The debate taking place in the country, albeit in hush tones regarding our friendship with Taiwan is nothing but concerning. It is concerning in that we have people who seem to think that Eswatini’s friendship with Taiwan may have been overtaken by events. This is a shameful view especially after what Taiwan has done for many emaSwati.

Last week, as I read through the Times Sunday, I was amazed at how some columnists could even suggest that Eswatini should dump Taiwan in favour of Chinese investments and loans.

Let me make it clear, I have never benefitted anything from Taiwan, but I would like to speak from an informed point of view.
It is sad that columnists who are supposed to do proper and balanced research lest they feed readers hogwash are failing in those regards.

keep and maintain
our friendship

I think Eswatini has done well, very well in fact to keep and maintain our friendship with Taiwan. Most African states are suffering under their Chinese connections, yet we have a true friend in Taiwan.
Is it not time that we all as a country stand up and call on the United Nations to recognise this Eastern giant as a member of the UN and recognise it as a sovereign state?

What the Chinese are doing is shameful to say the least. Information about China and its relations with other African states is freely available on the internet.
I remember while in Botswana, how the Chinese loaned Botswana money which was used to build roads and rehabilitate rural schools. The Chinese never gave Botswana any hard cash, instead the loan constituted cement and tar being shipped from China to Botswana, at the detriment of Botswana businesses people.

The Chinese also brought with them cheap Chinese labour with no regard for the poor and unemployed citizens of Botswana. The people of Botswana learnt the hard way that Chinese loans and investments do not amount to any financial injection.
At least in Eswatini, we can all attest to the fact that we have seen cheques coming from Taiwan handed to the former Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Prince Hlangusemphi.

defaulting on its
repayments

We have also seen our children being awarded Taiwan scholarships and the investments the Taiwanese have made in our agricultural sector.
To dump Taiwan for China would be the biggest mistake Eswatini could make. Sri Lanka was given a loan by China to build a seaport; China came with its cheap labour and built the sea port, with little regard for the unemployed and poor Sri Lankan people.

The moment Sri Lanka defaulted on that investment; China moved in and took ownership of the port.
The same is about to happen in Zambia, where reports suggest that the government of Edgar Lungu is defaulting on its repayments.
The Chinese are now seeking to take over the Lusaka Airport to make good on their investments.
South Africa just recently received a R1.5 billion loan from China, given to Eskom. Opposition parties are at pains to get hold of the loan conditions from Cyril Ramaphosa who has flatly refused to make these loan conditions public.

The Chinese targeting Eskom was nothing but a strategic move.
For them to take over and invade South Africa, it is important to hit white monopoly where it matters. Eskom is the engine of South Africa and Southern Africa as a whole.

I fear that Eswatini is still fast asleep. The Chinese takeover of Eskom and the secrecy surrounding the loan deal can prove detrimental to Eswatini. We import 80 per cent of our electricity from Eskom and therefore, it could be the engine used by China to force Taiwan out of Eswatini.
We should prepare to live in darkness in the near future! For the past 15 years, there have been ignored calls for a coal powered power plant to be built in Mpaka.
These calls have fallen on deaf ears on the out of office government led by former Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini.
Let me conclude by thanking Taiwan for what they have done and continue to do for Eswatini. Their contribution in the health sector cannot go unnoticed.

Qalakaliboli Dlamini