A growing number of U.S. Republican lawmakers have criticized South Africa’s decision to expel Taiwan’s liaison office from Pretoria. Despite increasing calls for comment, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has declined to address the issue publicly, insisting instead on using formal diplomatic channels.
Prominent Republican figures have voiced strong opposition. Senator Tom Cotton condemned the move, calling it “deeply disturbing” and attributing it to pressure from the Chinese Communist Party.
Congressman Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed concern on social media, urging South Africa to honor its nonaligned foreign policy and reconsider the decision. Similarly, Senator Jim Risch questioned the Biden administration’s approach, criticizing South Africa for allegedly aligning with Chinese and Russian interests at the expense of U.S. relations.
Taiwan, for its part, has refused to comply with South Africa’s order to relocate the office to Johannesburg by the end of the month. DIRCO, referencing the long-standing decision from 1997 to cut formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, reiterated its stance but declined to provide further comments through the media.
