Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has departed Eswatini for home following a surprise trip to Africa in defiance of Beijing’s efforts to thwart his diplomatic outreach.

Minister of Finance Chuang Tsui-yun (莊翠雲) has protested Taiwan's designation at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and called for the nation's equal treatment in the organization, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement today.

Eswatini remains the only African nation without tariff-free access to China's market due to its ties with Taiwan.

Taiwan has expressed concern hours after a call between China and the United States’ top diplomats in which Beijing stressed self-ruled Taiwan was the biggest risk in relations.

The Minnesota General Assembly yesterday passed a resolution reaffirming its commitment to strengthening and deepening sister ties between the US state and Taiwan, marking the fifth consecutive year that a pro-Taiwan resolution was passed with unanimous bipartisan support.

Cross-strait tensions have escalated in recent years as China has rapidly ramped up its military capabilities and conducted more intrusive operations near the island.

The governments have no official diplomatic or military ties. But a loose network led by company executives and volunteers is bridging some of that gulf.