The South African government has reportedly demanded that Taiwan relocate its representative office from the capital, Pretoria, by the end of October, a move attributed to pressure from China, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday.
MOFA indicated that it is actively engaging with South African authorities to reverse the request, arguing that the relocation could negatively impact the positive relations between the two nations in areas such as trade, education, and technology.
In recent months, the relationship between South Africa and China has deepened significantly, leading to increased pressure from Beijing for South Africa to limit its interactions with Taiwan. MOFA has urged South Africa to resist this external influence, but if the government remains firm in its stance, Taiwan may explore countermeasures to protect its sovereignty.
The ministry condemned China’s tactics in leveraging political and economic strategies to coerce other countries into reducing their support for Taiwan.
These developments follow a request from the South African government made on October 7, coinciding with a reception hosted by the Taiwan office to celebrate Taiwan’s National Day. South Africa has been pressuring Taiwan since last year, citing United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and the “one-China” principle as justification for its actions.
Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, addressed China’s representation in the United Nations and led to Taiwan losing its seat to the People’s Republic of China.
In its ultimatum, the South African government stated that the Taiwan office must vacate Pretoria by the end of the month or face closure, declaring the issue “non-negotiable.”
Taiwan established its Taipei Liaison Office in Pretoria in 1998 after South Africa severed diplomatic ties, along with a branch in Cape Town. Meanwhile, South Africa maintains a Liaison Office in Taipei.
This situation echoes a similar incident in January 2017 when Nigeria ordered Taiwan to relocate its office from the capital, a move also attributed to pressure from China. In that case, Taiwan responded by demanding the relocation of the Nigerian Trade Office in Taipei.
As tensions rise, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has instructed his ministry to consider potential countermeasures, which may include requesting the relocation of the South African office in Taipei and tightening visa regulations for South African travelers.
