In the ongoing struggle for global recognition, Taiwan has long been the underdog. Diplomatic isolation, driven by Beijing’s “One China” policy, has pushed Taipei out of most international organisations and bilateral relationships. Nowhere is this diplomatic squeeze more visible than in Africa, where only Eswatini – a tiny landlocked kingdom – still officially recognises Taiwan.
But while formal diplomatic ties have withered, Taiwan has not disappeared from the continent. Quite the opposite: it is quietly expanding its presence through soft power, and Africa has become the arena for Taipei’s most audacious survival strategy.
In recent years, Taiwan has focused on building influence through a mix of educational diplomacy, healthcare initiatives and development partnerships. These are often overlooked in the grand narratives of China–Africa relations that dominate the headlines with state visits and billion-dollar infrastructure projects. But Taiwan’s smaller-scale, people-centred approach may be the increasingly viable alternative – one built on long-term trust, not transactional aid.
To dismiss Taiwan’s Africa strategy as symbolic is to misunderstand the very nature of soft power.
Education is perhaps Taiwan’s most effective soft power tool in Africa. Over the last two decades, Taiwan has offered a growing number of International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) scholarships to African students, many from countries that do not officially recognise Taipei. These scholarships cover tuition and living expenses and integrate students into Taiwanese society. In 2022 alone, 210 students including from Africa were enrolled in ICDF programs. But the real impact lies in the long-term relationships these students form – with their peers, professors and Taiwanese institutions. Many return home with a nuanced view of Taiwan and often become informal ambassadors.
Healthcare is another arena where Taiwan has invested significantly – and strategically. Through the TaiwanICDF and NGOs, Taiwanese medical missions operate in several African countries, providing direct care and capacity building. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Taiwan stepped up its health diplomacy, donating personal protective equipment to several African countries and participating in anti-pandemic knowledge sharing. Unlike China’s “mask diplomacy”, Taiwan’s efforts were quiet but arguably more sustainable, focusing on training and local solutions.
Perhaps most surprising is Taiwan’s push into African technology and agriculture – a sector often overshadowed by Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. Leveraging its global reputation for innovation, Taipei has funded smart farming projects in countries and regions such as Eswatini, Burundi and Somaliland, where local farmers are taught to use drip irrigation systems and circular economy practices for yield optimisation. These are small-scale initiatives but show Taiwan’s commitment to development that is appropriate, locally driven and sensitive to African needs.
Critics may say these efforts are symbolic no matter how well intentioned. But to dismiss Taiwan’s Africa strategy as symbolic is to misunderstand the very nature of soft power. Taiwan does not need embassies to be influential. Its strategy is not about flags, but about relationships – and that may be the key in a multipolar world where non-traditional diplomacy is gaining traction.
Moreover, Taiwan’s approach contrasts sharply with the more transactional nature of Chinese aid, which has drawn attention for supposedly promoting debt dependency and political compliance. African civil society leaders, students and small business owners may find Taiwan a more approachable and responsive partner – one that offers not just assistance but mutual learning. This relational diplomacy can be particularly powerful in democratic or semi-democratic states where public opinion matters and alternative narratives to China’s are welcome.
The question now is whether Taiwan’s soft power strategy in Africa can scale – and whether it will survive the increasing geopolitical pressure.
Strategically, Taiwan’s engagement in Africa serves another purpose – it challenges the international norm that diplomatic recognition is the only path to relevance. By operating through informal channels and focusing on civil society rather than state elites, Taiwan is creating a new model of what we call “non-recognition diplomacy”. This allows it to stay visible, build alliances and promote its values without provoking direct confrontation with Beijing.
The question now is whether Taiwan’s soft power strategy in Africa can scale – and whether it will survive the increasing geopolitical pressure. Much will depend on whether Taipei can institutionalise these programs and invest in long-term partnerships rather than short-term visibility. Here, external actors – particularly the United States and the European Union – have a role to play. If they really value a rules-based international order, they must find ways to support Taiwan’s participation in global development efforts even if formal recognition is off the table.
Ultimately, while it is difficult to predict how many African countries might switch recognition to Taiwan, some of the more likely contenders include The Gambia and São Tomé and Príncipe – states with recent diplomatic ties to Taipei and relatively active civil societies. Their future orientation may hinge on how they weigh the tangible benefits of Chinese infrastructure investment against the more participatory, human capital-focused partnerships Taiwan offers. Others – such as Malawi and Liberia – may not formally switch recognition but could deepen informal cooperation.
In a world where power is defined by networks rather than borders, Taiwan’s strategy in Africa may be a glimpse of what diplomacy looks like in the 21st century. It is quiet, relational and embedded in everyday lives. And in the long run, that may be more durable than any formal diplomatic agreement.
