The Chinese foreign ministry has issued a warning to its citizens residing or planning to travel to the African kingdom of Eswatini, citing increased security risks due to rampant cyber fraud and criminal activities linked to gambling. The advisory follows the detention of 40 Chinese nationals in late March for alleged involvement in illegal online gambling operations. These individuals were reportedly released after paying fines but have since been re-arrested, with their lawyers arguing that this re-arrest was unlawful. Eswatini is one of only 12 countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. The advisory urges Chinese citizens to relocate to safer neighboring countries such as South Africa, and warns that assistance may be delayed in case of emergencies. This move comes amidst ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan, with China exerting pressure on countries to sever diplomatic ties with the island nation. In April, Beijing was accused of attempting to derail a planned visit by Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te to Eswatini by pressuring neighboring countries to revoke overflight permits. The visit was eventually cancelled, and Lai later travelled to Eswatini without disclosing the means of his transportation. This latest advisory from China further escalates the geopolitical tension between the two nations.