China has told its citizens to immediately leave Eswatini, citing security risks in the African nation.

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is among Taiwan's 12 allies that still recognise its claim to statehood. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes the self-governed island's attempts at international exchange.

Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te travelled to Eswatini in May, with Taipei accusing Beijing of trying to derail the trip by pressuring nearby countries to revoke overflight permits.

The consular affairs department of China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that "Chinese nationals and institutions already in the country should evacuate as soon as possible or relocate to relatively safer areas such as South Africa".

‘High security risks’

The ministry cited "rampant cyber fraud and online gambling criminal activities" as among the ongoing security concerns.

It was not immediately clear how many Chinese citizens were working or living in Eswatini.

"Those who insist on travelling to or remaining in the area will face extremely high security risks, and the timeliness of receiving consular assistance may be affected," the department said in a statement shared to social media platform WeChat.

Eswatini, a small enclave kingdom formerly known as Swaziland, is one of 12 countries that

On May 1, China extended a zero-tariff policy to all African countries except Eswatini.