Taiwan Refuses South Africa’s Request to Relocate Unofficial Embassy from Capital
The foreign ministry of Taiwan has expressed its protest against South Africa’s request while getting ready for the ‘worst-case scenario.’
On Oct. 22, Taiwan’s foreign ministry stated that it had declined to relocate Taipei’s de facto embassy from Pretoria, the capital of South Africa.
In response to criticism from Taipei about South Africa succumbing to pressure from Beijing, the department clarified that the request was made due to the absence of formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, aiming to “correct the anomaly” of having the Taiwan office located in the capital.
On Tuesday, Jeff Liu, Taiwan’s spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed reporters that the department had summoned South Africa’s representative in Taipei to protest and reject South Africa’s ultimatum upon receiving it on Oct. 7.
Liu revealed that South Africa’s foreign ministry initially communicated the request in December 2023, followed by a written request in April this year. The Taipei Liaison Office was given six months to relocate. On Oct. 7, South Africa’s foreign ministry instructed the liaison office to vacate Pretoria by the end of October or face shutdown.
In 1998, South Africa terminated its diplomatic relations with Taiwan to establish formal ties with communist China. Prior to this change, South Africa and Taiwan had agreed to maintain liaison offices.
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Liu stated that the demand to rebrand and relocate the liaison office “blatantly violates the spirit and the text of the 1997 agreement allowing both parties to establish a liaison office in the other country’s capital.”
“We will never accept such unreasonable demands,” asserted Liu, mentioning that the department is prepared for various scenarios.
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung of Taiwan informed lawmakers on the Foreign and National Defense Committee on Oct. 21 that he hopes for negotiation room but is ready for the “worst-case scenario.”
Lin mentioned that several countries, including the United States, Japan, and the Czech Republic, have supported Taiwan in its discussions with South Africa. He also highlighted divisions within South Africa’s new coalition government.
A spokesperson from South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation told The Epoch Times that the department will continue engaging with the Taipei Liaison Office through proper official channels.
Last week, the Chinese regime commended South Africa’s decision, with spokeswoman Mao Ning stating that Beijing “appreciates South Africa’s correct decision.”
In 2017, Taiwan had to change the names of its representative offices in Nigeria, Bahrain, Ecuador, Jordan, and Dubai. The rebranded office in Nigeria was relocated from Abuja, the capital, to the largest city, Lagos.
In questioning Lin on Monday, Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Wang Ting-yu expressed concerns that South Africa’s demand could trigger “chain reactions” in the region, including in neighboring Eswatini, the only African country with formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
On Oct. 16, Taiwan unveiled its new de facto embassy in Mumbai, the Taiwan government’s third office in India.
In response, Beijing lodged “stern representations,” citing Taiwan as “an integral part of China’s territory.”
The Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan’s official name, was established in 1912 in China. The ROC government, led by Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek, shifted to the island in 1949 after losing control of mainland China to Mao Zedong’s communist forces in the Chinese Civil War.
