Undermining Taiwan

for States in the same way Russia denied Ukraine the right to join NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation).

He said the world remained a collective union in terms of international rules; hence it was wrong to dictate terms to countries on how they should exercise their sovereign rights to choose friends.

He said it was a pity that the West condemned Russia for denying Ukraine the right to join NATO. He said the West, mainly the US, should allow countries to choose friends without any dire economic consequences or threats.

One source, who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity, said the law was good because Taiwan is an independent State, which Mainland China should respect.

Attempts to get hold of the executives at the Embassy of Taiwan to Eswatini failed yesterday. This newspaper wanted to find out from them whether they were aware of the US Taipei Act.

Percy Simelane, the King’s Office’s Director of Communications, said they were not privy to the Taipei Act, but they did not have any reason to believe that it is a bad law.

Naturally, he said, it was the responsibility of big brothers to protect smaller ones. Simelane reminded the world that Eswatini’s diplomatic relations with Taiwan were influenced by its national interest, not by choices made by other nations of the world or financial gains pegged to the relations.

The director said the kingdom has a sovereign right to freely make choices as it defined its destiny.

THE TAIPEI ACT

This Act may be cited as ‘the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (Taipei) Act of 2019.’

SECTION 2- DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-8) states that it is the policy of the United States ‘to preserve and promote extensive, close, and friendly commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan’.

voured by the media,” stated Dlamini.

He said the organisation remained focussed on the liberation drive and was not disturbed by the reports. When quizzed on the reason behind the statement if they were not worried by what the media reports, Dlamini said they were invoking their right to respond, refute and state their side on the matter so that people were aware of where they stood as an organisation.

“The recently published stories about SWALIMO leadership and its members are false, unfortunate and based on suggestion and innuendo. SWALIMO strongly condemns these fabricated stories. We are not worried but we felt it was important for us to state our side and protect our image as an organisation from such lies,” he said. The SG said the organisation was not going to allow its name to be dragged into public debates aimed at smearing malice to their good image.

“The standing position of the movement is to solely focus on the struggle of the people of Swaziland and related activities; and refuses to be distracted from its mission by attempts to drag it into public debates that serve unknown agendas. The support (2)

The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 states that it is the policy of the United States ‘to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardise the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan’.

Taiwan is a free, democratic, and prosperous nation of 23 million people and an important contributor to peace and stability around the world.

Since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen as President of Taiwan in 2016, the Government of the People's Republic of China has intensified its efforts to pressure Taiwan.

(5) Since 2016, the Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, El Salvador, the Solomon Islands, and Kiribati have severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favour of diplomatic relations with China.

Taiwan currently maintains full diplomatic relations with 15 nations around the world.

Taiwan's unique relationship with the United States, Australia, India, Japan, and other countries are of significant benefit in strengthening Taiwan’s economy and preserving its international space. (3) (4) (6) (7)

and unwavering spirit of our people is applauded and indeed together we shall achieve our freedom,” he stated.

The organisation’s Spokesperson Thantaza Silolo confirmed the statement by Dlamini and said the organisation had taken a resolution not to allow the people to level unfounded lies and stories about movement.

He assured the nation that SWALIMO was an ethical organisation that followed standing principles and regulations.

MISINFORMATION

“May we assure the nation that no amount of malice or misinformation will dampen the spirits of the members and aspiring members of this glorious movement of our people until liberation has been attained. We appeal to all concerned media houses to refrain from derailing the struggle through anti-revolutionary activities and articulations,” he stated.

Silolo further thanked all those who supported the organisation and mentioned that the leadership was committed to calls for democracy.

The President of the organisation Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane has been in the spotlight of the online media following utterances, where (8) (9) (1)

According to President Tsai Ingwen, the severance of diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of diplomatic relations with China is ‘part of a series of diplomatic and military acts of coercion’ by China.

The Asia Reassurance Initiative

Act of 2018 (Public Law states that -

(A) It is United States policy ‘to support the close economic, political, and security relationship between Taiwan and the United States’ and (B) The President should - (i) ‘conduct regular transfers of defence articles to Taiwan that are tailored to meet the existing and likely future threats from the People's Republic of China, including supporting the efforts of Taiwan to develop and integrate asymmetric capabilities, as appropriate, including mobile, survivable, and cost-effective capabilities, into its military forces’; and (ii) ‘encourage the travel of high-level United States officials to Taiwan, in accordance with the Taiwan Travel Act’.

115-409)

SECTION 3 SENSE OF CONGRESS ON TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN

It is the sense of congress that - The United States and Taiwan have built a strong economic partnership, with the United States now Taiwan's second largest trading partner and with Taiwan the 11th largest trading partner of the United States and a key destination for United States agricultural exports;

(2) Strong United States-Taiwan economic relations have been a positive factor in stimulating economic growth and job creation for the people of both the United States and Taiwan; and –

The United States Trade Representative should consult with the congress on opportunities for further strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations between the United States and Taiwan. (3)

It should be the policy of the United States -

(1) To advocate, as appropriate (A) For Taiwan's membership in all international organisations in which statehood is not a requirement and in which the United States is also a participant; and

(B) For Taiwan to be granted observer status in other appropriate international organisations; To instruct, as appropriate, representatives of the United States Government in all organisations (2)

he rallied his supporters to participate in the upcoming 2023 national elections. The calls were ridiculed by other politicians who alleged that Simelane and his organisation were reneging on their original call for democracy.

The organisation also had a number public spat with other organisation since the May 1 Workers’ Day mayhem at St Paul’s Primary School, where SWALIMO members were accused of instigating a fight.

The organisation was not spared by other organisations with the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) President Mlungisi Makhanya stating that he was not going to mention Simelane’s name.

The online media war between members of the mass democratic organisation has been gaining momentum such that Simelane was called in for a hard questions session on Twitter space. Makhanya is also expected to appear in the same space today at 8pm. Makhanya has been billed to answer questions around allegations of plotting to assassinate Simelane, his relationship with SWALIMO and his take on participating in the upcoming national elections.

SECTION 4 - POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES WITH REGARD TO TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

described in paragraph (1) to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to advocate for Taiwan's membership or observer status in such organisations; and - For the President or the President's designees to advocate, as appropriate, for Taiwan's membership or observer status in all organisations described in paragraph (1) as part of any relevant bilateral engagements between the United States and the People's Republic of China, including leader summits and the US-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue.

Section 5 strengthening of ties with Taiwan

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United States Government should-(1)

Support Taiwan in strengthening its official diplomatic relationships as well as other partnerships with countries in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world;

(2) Consider, in certain cases as appropriate and in alignment with United States interests, increasing its economic, security, and diplomatic engagement with nations that have demonstrably strengthened, enhanced, or upgraded relations with Taiwan; and

(3) Consider, in certain cases as appropriate, in alignment with United States foreign policy interests and in consultation with congress, altering its economic, security, and diplomatic engagement with nations that take serious or significant actions to undermine the security or prosperity of Taiwan. Report - Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five years, the secretary of State shall report to the appropriate congressional committees on the steps taken in accordance with Section (a).

Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, the term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means-(1)

The Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on appropriations, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and

The Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on appropriations, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.

Approved March 26, 2020 (3) (b) (c) (2)