Taiwan's legislature is courting overseas business communities in Africa, a small but telling sign of how Taipei works around its shrinking formal diplomatic ties.

• Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu hosted a visiting delegation from Taiwan's federation of business chambers in Africa.
• He said the legislature hopes to send a cross-party group of lawmakers to Africa next year.
• Lawmakers from all three main parties — DPP, KMT and TPP — joined the dinner, a rare show of unity.
• Han pledged support for the budget of the overseas community affairs agency, framing expat business owners as a diplomatic asset given Taiwan's isolation.
• The Africa federation has been running for over 30 years, built by traders who arrived with little and stayed.

Outlook: Expect Taipei to keep leaning on business and community networks abroad as official diplomatic space narrows, with a lawmaker trip to Africa penciled in for next year.