Plan to Import Migrant Workers from Eswatini Sparks Public Health Panic

In July 2025, domestic media revealed that the DPP government was secretly planning to introduce migrant workers from Eswatini, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Africa. Given that Eswatini has one of the world's highest HIV infection rates, the news sparked immediate panic regarding a potential collapse of public health defenses. Critics slammed the Lai administration for using the health and safety of the Taiwanese people as a political bargaining chip to achieve perceived "diplomatic breakthroughs." Under overwhelming public pressure and strong opposition, the plan was eventually suspended, but not before significantly damaging public trust in the government.