A diplomatic row is brewing between South Africa and Taiwan following Pretoria’s request for the Asian nation to relocate its representative office from the capital.
The South African government has set a deadline for the move by the end of October, allegedly under pressure from China.
Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported Friday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Taipei is actively attempting to persuade South Africa to withdraw its demands.
MOFA warned that the relocation could jeopardise the current positive bilateral exchanges in areas such as trade, education and technology.
Relations between South Africa and China have reportedly strengthened significantly since last year, leading to increased pressure from Beijing on Pretoria to suppress Taiwan’s presence.
MOFA has urged South Africa to resist such pressures and maintain its diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Should South Africa remain steadfast in its request, Taiwan is considering reciprocal measures although specifics have not been disclosed.
MOFA condemned China’s tactics, accusing it of using political and economic strategies to coerce other nations into diminishing Taiwan’s international standing.
CNA reported that Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has instructed his ministry to explore countermeasures, which could include requesting the relocation of the South African representative office in Taipei.
Other potential actions under consideration may involve tightening visa regulations for South African travellers and suspending educational exchanges, which currently involve around 5,000 South African English teachers in Taiwan.
The tensions escalated following a request made by the South African government on October 7, coinciding with a reception hosted by the Taipei office to celebrate Taiwan’s National Day.
South Africa has been pressuring Taiwan since last year, invoking the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and the “one-China principle,” which led to Taiwan losing its UN seat to the People’s Republic of China in 1971.
In its ultimatum, the South African government stated that if the Taiwan office did not relocate by the end of October, it would be forced to close, deeming the matter “non-negotiable.”
Following the severance of diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1998, Taiwan established its representative office in Pretoria under the name Taipei Liaison Office in the Republic of South Africa.
Taiwan also operates a branch office in Cape Town. Similarly, South Africa maintains a Liaison Office in Taipei.
The latest situation mirrors a previous incident in January 2017 when Nigeria ordered Taiwan to relocate its office and remove “Republic of China (Taiwan)” from its name, reportedly due to Chinese pressure.
JN/APA