Even before the 9th edition of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) officially begins in Beijing, the China-Africa Summit de facto has already kicked off. Chinese state media have been flooding the internet with pictures of the pompous reception for the arrival of African heads of state and government and their delegations in China. They will reportedly all be there – except for the tiny kingdom of Eswatini, which is at odds with China over the Taiwan question.