Taiwan Embassy in South Africa Faces Relocation Deadline Amid Chinese Pressure

Taiwan Embassy in South Africa Faces Relocation Deadline

Taiwan's de facto embassy in South Africa has been given a deadline of the end of March to relocate outside of the capital city Pretoria, according to the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry. The ministry blames Chinese pressure for the move.

South Africa severed official diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1997 and maintains formal relations only with China. China views Taiwan as Chinese territory with no right to statehood.

In a statement, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said the South African government sent a letter in late January demanding the Taiwanese embassy leave Pretoria before the end of March and be renamed as a trade office. The ministry added that this demand "shows China's suppression against us in South Africa is becoming more serious."

Negotiations between Taiwan and South Africa are ongoing. The de facto South African embassy in Taipei and China's Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

South Africa previously requested the Taipei Liaison Office to leave Pretoria last year. China is South Africa's largest trading partner and the two countries are looking to expand cooperation in areas like renewable energy.

Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims and says it has the right to forge ties with other countries. Taiwan only has formal diplomatic ties with 12 countries and its only remaining ally in Africa is Eswatini, which is almost entirely surrounded by South Africa.