Taiwan's last African ally holds out despite overtures by China

FILE PHOTO: Swaziland's King Mswati III (C) arrives with his regiments after maidens delivered reeds at Ludzidzini royal palace during the annual Reed Dance in Swaziland, August 30, 2015. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo

MBABANE (Reuters) - While China meets African leaders at a major summit in Beijing next week, the king of eSwatini, self-ruled Taiwan's last remaining ally on the continent, will be hosting thousands of people at a traditional Reed Dance ceremony.

By offering loans and upping diplomatic pressure, Beijing has flipped one African country at a time to its side, most recently Burkina Faso, in May. But eSwatini has stuck with Taiwan, which Beijing claims as a wayward province.