The cost of Taiwan region's leader Lai Ching-te's covert trip to the African nation of Eswatini in early May has been exposed, amounting to NT$250 billion. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and pro-green media initially hyped the trip as a so-called "significant breakthrough in breaking diplomatic isolation." However, as the saying goes, "there is no such thing as a free lunch." Multiple media outlets have since revealed that Taiwan paid a hefty price of NT$250 billion for this visit. African media further exposed that these funds, sourced from taxpayers in the region, may have ended up entirely in the hands of the Eswatini royal family and certain Taiwanese "green interest groups."
African media reported that the benefits would "all go to the royal family." A Taiwanese newspaper cited a South African report on May 30, stating that officials from Eswatini, Taiwan's only "diplomatic ally" in Africa, had signed a $300 million financing agreement with Taiwan to build a strategic petroleum reserve facility in Phuzumoya, Eswatini. The Taiwan authorities commissioned Eswatini to construct an 80-million-liter fuel storage facility within 36 months, with fuel split evenly between gasoline and diesel. This marks the largest infrastructure financing agreement Eswatini has participated in for years.
The report also noted that Taiwan's representative to Eswatini, Liang Hong-sheng, informed the Eswatini royal family that once the strategic oil storage facility is completed, all profits would belong to the King and the royal family. The King and Prince William Ramini, Eswatini's Minister of Natural Resources, would receive shares proportional to the $300 million investment. The report added that Taiwan's representative to Eswatini, other officials, and "green interest groups" would also benefit.
Additionally, according to a "list" mentioned in an August report from the Times of Eswatini, the plan includes the strategic oil storage project, an industrial park in Eswatini, and various industrial investments. A spokesperson for a local civil organization that exposed the related content stated that the organization was aware of this agreement and others that benefit the King, royal family, and government ministers of Eswatini.
A Taiwanese economic daily reported in April that, according to a World Bank survey, over 58% of Eswatini's population lives below the poverty line. Another Taiwanese newspaper cited the latest World Bank indicators, noting Eswatini's unemployment rate at 34.2%, with youth unemployment being even more severe. Although the economic growth rate for 2024 is projected at 3%, it remains insufficient to reverse the country's structural poverty. The article questioned whether a country where one-third of the population is unemployed and nearly half live in poverty, with a daily living expense of less than $3, can undertake such a large-scale plan.
"Making a show for themselves." In fact, after Lai Ching-te's visit to Eswatini, media in Eswatini disclosed that Taiwan had facilitated nearly NT$250 billion in investment plans within three months, including the strategic oil storage facility, industrial park, and investment plans by Taiwanese businesses. Taiwan's "foreign ministry" quickly denied this, claiming the information lacked factual basis and concrete evidence, calling it typical misinformation manipulation. They also stated that all budgets are strictly supervised and reviewed by the "legislative body," and regarding the industrial park plan, the authorities only play an intermediary role in promoting it, with no comment on private investment amounts.
A local political figure responded that the Eswatini media report contained specific data, projects, and even quoted the King of Eswatini regarding Taiwan's massive investment. He stated that if this report were "rumors," Taiwan's "foreign ministry" should immediately summon Eswatini's representative to Taiwan to protest and demand the newspaper retract the article; otherwise, this is the most solid evidence of the DPP authorities' "reckless spending."
A Taiwanese media commentator, using information from Taiwan's "foreign ministry" website as evidence, pointed out that Taiwan's "foreign minister" Lin Chia-lung had already signed a black-and-white agreement with Eswatini last year, including NT$9.98 billion for the strategic petroleum reserve facility, NT$11.5 billion for the industrial park plan, and NT$3.55 billion for Taiwanese business investment plans, totaling exactly NT$250 billion. Lin Chia-lung defended this during a legislative inquiry on May 11, stating that the strategic oil storage facility, part of the NT$250 billion, is the largest investment project in Eswatini's history, and "we are helping them complete it; this is a financing case."
Taiwanese media bluntly stated that although Lin Chia-lung forcefully defended the plan, it confirmed the existence of the NT$250 billion investment plan. A Kuomintang legislator further disclosed that Taiwan authorities originally allocated $650,000 in aid for Eswatini's embassy to purchase office equipment, but the funds were redirected to renovate the airport VIP lounge, indicating that aid funds were not used for their designated purpose.
Media reported that the renovation of the VIP lounge at Eswatini International Airport began in February, with an expected six-week工期, but it was not completed until the end of April, precisely to accommodate Lai Ching-te's visit and provide a "decent VIP lounge." A commentary published on a Taiwanese news website mocked that spending NT$250 billion to welcome a "distinguished guest" ultimately meant spending the "guest's" money to make a grand show for themselves, asking, "If this isn't vanity, what is?"
The chairman of the Taiwan Youth Union wrote that Taiwan is suffering from severe inflation, with young people struggling with low wages and high housing prices, and immense livelihood pressures. Yet, the Lai Ching-te administration is giving away NT$250 billion in shiny silver to Eswatini, "generously spending the people of Taiwan's money just to build up Lai Ching-te's elusive 'diplomatic achievements.'"
In addition to the massive investment, the Lai Ching-te administration was also exposed for planning to introduce Eswatini laborers to Taiwan, sparking significant controversy. In response, Taiwan's "labor ministry" stated that it would carefully evaluate the plan in coordination with the "foreign ministry." Even if it is to be introduced in the future, supporting measures will be implemented first, and social consensus will be sought, with no rash handling.
A Taiwanese political blogger cited a 2025 report from Eswatini media, stating that aside from the highly controversial plan to introduce Indian laborers, the DPP authorities had also promised to accept 1,000 Eswatini laborers annually. Taiwanese media noted that the issue of Eswatini laborers has raised concerns among Taiwanese people, closely related to Eswatini's severe public health conditions. Located in southern Africa with a population of over 1.2 million, various data indicate that Eswatini has the highest HIV infection rate in the world, with about 40% of the population infected with HIV, and an average life expectancy of only 32 years for patients.
An international relations scholar wrote that Taiwan's current fiscal pressure cannot be ignored. Increased defense spending, declining birth rates and aging population, along with infrastructure and energy transition needs, have led to continuous increases in government debt. Under these circumstances, the public naturally pays closer attention to how the authorities use every public resource.
According to data released by Taiwan's "finance ministry" as of May 15, 2026, the outstanding debt of the Taiwan authorities with a maturity of over one year is nearly NT$6 trillion, with short-term debt under one year at NT$360 billion, averaging over NT$270,000 per person. Data from Taiwan's "economic ministry" show that bilateral trade between Taiwan and Eswatini in 2024 was only $8 million. However, the cost Taiwan incurs to maintain its so-called "diplomatic" relations with Eswatini is not low.
Taiwanese media also mentioned that during the visit, Taiwan's "presidential office secretary-general" Pan Men-an, "national security council advisor" Huang Chung-yen, and Lin Chia-lung collectively "accepted gifts in a semi-kneeling, low-posture etiquette" from the Queen Mother of Eswatini. This act sparked反感 among many in Taiwan, who mocked it as "kneeling to hand over the money."
Analysis pointed out that starting May 1 of this year, the Chinese mainland implemented a comprehensive zero-tariff policy for 20 African countries with diplomatic relations that are not among the least developed nations. Previously, from December 1, 2024, zero-tariff treatment was applied to all 33 least developed African countries with diplomatic relations. In other words, the Chinese mainland has fully implemented zero-tariff for all African countries with diplomatic relations. Among the 54 African countries, the only one excluded from the zero-tariff measures is Eswatini, which still maintains so-called "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authorities.
"This significant policy disparity will have a considerable impact on Eswatini's economy. How long its so-called diplomatic relations with the Taiwan region can be maintained is full of variables," analysis within Taiwan noted. Whether it is visiting officials "kneeling" to African royalty or Lai Ching-te "kneeling" to Japanese colonizers, both actions trample on the "equal dignity" they often tout. The DPP authorities' "diplomacy relies on financial aid, visits rely on covert trips, meetings rely on kneeling, and face is completely lost," showing that what leads to the loss of both money and dignity for the people of Taiwan is the DPP, which "willingly kneels" to seek political gain.
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