President Mokgweetsi Masisi has reaffirmed his administration’s firm support for the controversial one-China policy, a position he emphasised during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing this week. Speaking to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Masisi expressed Botswana’s commitment to recognising China’s claim over Taiwan and reiterated the long-standing diplomatic ties between the two countries, which will mark their 50th anniversary next year.
This stance marks a clear departure from the approach taken by Masisi’s predecessor, Ian Khama, who had taken a bolder stand against China during his presidency. Khama, a vocal advocate for human rights, had infuriated Beijing by recognising the Dalai Lama and planning a visit for the Tibetan spiritual leader to Botswana in 2017. Khama’s actions were seen as defying China’s core interests, especially since China views the Dalai Lama as a separatist threat due to his advocacy for Tibetan autonomy.
During his tenure, Khama’s government had broken relations with China, insisting that Botswana was a sovereign nation capable of making independent decisions regarding its international relationships. Khama notably emphasized this when discussing the Dalai Lama visit, which was later cancelled due to the Tibetan leader’s health concerns. At the time, Khama dismissed China’s threats and reminded the world that Botswana was not a Chinese colony, showcasing his administration’s willingness to stand up to the superpower.
In contrast, Masisi has taken a more diplomatic approach, aligning Botswana more closely with China’s strategic and economic interests. At FOCAC, Masisi expressed gratitude for China’s longstanding support for Botswana, particularly in economic development, and highlighted Botswana’s willingness to deepen cooperation in sectors such as mining, agriculture, clean energy, and education.
Under Khama, Botswana had risked China’s ire by engaging with figures like the Dalai Lama, a move Beijing viewed as harmful to its territorial integrity. By contrast, Masisi’s administration has avoided such confrontations, opting instead to reinforce Botswana’s support for China’s core policies, including the one-China principle.
Beyond diplomacy, Masisi’s embrace of the one-China policy is also motivated by Botswana’s economic interests. China remains a key partner for Botswana, with Chinese investment helping to drive growth in sectors such as infrastructure and mining. Masisi’s reaffirmation of the one-China policy is seen as a pragmatic move to strengthen this economic relationship, especially as Botswana seeks to attract more Chinese investment in its long-term development strategy.
During his visit to Beijing, Masisi praised Chinese President Xi Jinping’s keynote speech at the summit, expressing optimism about the future of China-Africa relations. Masisi said the partnership action plans laid out at the summit would greatly benefit Botswana and other African nations, helping them to achieve modernization and economic growth. “The measures announced by President Xi to further open China to African countries are exciting and encouraging,” Masisi said.
Next year’s 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Botswana and China will offer an opportunity to further cement these relationships. Masisi said Botswana would use this occasion to push for even closer cooperation with China, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to long-term partnership. “We believe that the Chinese people can and will achieve national reunification,” he said.
