Taiwan's DPP authorities slammed for seeking 'dollar diplomacy'

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said attempts of "dollar diplomacy" by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have cost "dearly" the people in Taiwan region.

Mao Ning made the remarks in response to media reports that the DPP authorities provided Eswatini with about NT$25 billion worth of funding before and after Lai Ching-te's trip to the African country.

Those reports are yet another example of how far the Lai authorities would go to selfishly advance their "Taiwan independence" agenda, Mao said.

"Their expensive 'dollar diplomacy' – a combination of corruption, fraudulence, bribery and money for abuse of power – has cost dearly the people in Taiwan, equivalent to collecting more than NT$1,000 from every person in Taiwan," she added.

Mao continued, "Having Eswatini as a 'diplomatic ally' is not about delivering real benefits for the people, but to line the pockets of the very few people who profit from it."

"This is political theatrics steeped in greed and graft," she said.

Mao stressed that the one-China principle is a prevailing international consensus and a basic norm governing international relations.

Noting that Eswatini is the only country left in Africa with so-called "diplomatic ties" to Taiwan, Mao said anyone betting on "Taiwan independence" has no future, and it will only cost them opportunities for development and international isolation.