Eswatini, Taiwan's only remaining diplomatic ally in Africa, is moving closer on military exchanges — a positive signal for Taiwan's diplomatic situation.

• Lai Ching-te accompanied King Mswati III of Eswatini on a tour of the Army Aviation Training Command in Tainan.
• The king personally tried out a helicopter flight simulator and sat in the cockpit of a Black Hawk helicopter.
• Taiwan has previously donated helicopters to Eswatini and sent instructors there to teach flying and maintenance skills.
• Eswatini values these helicopters for disaster relief and search-and-rescue work during climate-related disasters.
• Taiwan has only twelve diplomatic allies left, and Eswatini is the sole one in Africa, making high-level visits of this kind especially important for Taipei.

Outlook: The two sides expect further exchanges on flight training and disaster-relief cooperation.