King Mswati III of Eswatini, Taiwan's African ally, is visiting Taiwan again — a positive signal for a country facing difficult diplomatic circumstances.

• The king arrived in Taiwan by special aircraft leading a delegation and accompanied by the Queen, and will attend the National Day celebrations and conduct a state visit, with the itinerary running through the 17th.
• Lai Ching-te welcomed him with military honours and, together with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, hosted the delegation at a state banquet at the Presidential Office.
• This is the king's 20th visit to Taiwan, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regards as a demonstration of support for Taiwan through concrete action.
• In May this year, the king dispatched a special aircraft to help Lai Ching-te reach Eswatini and complete a state visit, a move seen as key to breaking through China's diplomatic blockade.
• Eswatini is Taiwan's only remaining diplomatic ally in Africa, making the stability of the relationship highly symbolic.

Outlook: During the visit, the two sides are expected to signal further cooperation to strengthen ties, while China may step up its efforts to court Eswatini.