South Africa’s government has requested that Taiwan relocate its de facto embassy, the Taipei Liaison Office, from the capital Pretoria to Johannesburg, the country’s commercial hub. The move, announced on Friday, has sparked tension between South Africa and Taiwan, with the latter accusing South Africa of yielding to pressure from China.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation stated that the Taipei Liaison Office would be rebranded as a Trade Office and given six months to complete the move. The department emphasized that this decision reflects the “non-political and non-diplomatic nature of the relationship between the Republic of South Africa and Taiwan,” given that South Africa severed political and diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1997.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry responded critically, suggesting that warming relations between South Africa and China were challenging its own friendly relationship with South Africa. The ministry warned it would “study and formulate all possible responses in order to safeguard the sovereignty and dignity of our country” if South Africa insists on changing the status quo.
China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and opposes any recognition of Taiwan’s sovereignty, welcomed South Africa’s decision. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning expressed appreciation for what she called South Africa’s “correct decision.”
This development occurs against the backdrop of China being South Africa’s largest global trading partner, with plans to expand cooperation in areas such as renewable energy. It highlights the complex diplomatic balancing act faced by countries in managing relations with both China and Taiwan.
Taiwan, which maintains formal diplomatic ties with only a dozen countries, mostly small and less developed nations, continues to assert its independence and reject China’s sovereignty claims. The Taiwanese government maintains that Beijing has no right to represent or speak for the island on the international stage.
REUTERS
