The South African government has requested Taiwan to relocate its unofficial embassy, or liaison office, from the administrative capital, Pretoria, to the commercial hub of Johannesburg. This decision, which comes amidst escalating tensions between China and Taiwan, highlights the intricate balancing act that many countries face in navigating relations with the world’s two largest economies.
The announcement was made by South Africa’s foreign ministry on Friday, which revealed that Taiwan had been given a six-month period to carry out the relocation. South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola reportedly communicated the decision to Chinese officials during his visit to China last month, where he attended the China-Africa summit. While South Africa severed formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1997 in favor of establishing relations with China, this recent move further demonstrates the African nation’s diplomatic tilt towards Beijing, particularly in light of Taiwan’s continued rejection of Chinese sovereignty claims over the island.
To fully understand the current development, it is crucial to consider the historical context of South Africa’s relationship with both Taiwan and China. South Africa, once an ally of Taiwan during the apartheid era, severed formal diplomatic ties with the island in 1997, shortly after the end of apartheid and the rise of democratic governance under Nelson Mandela. This decision was largely influenced by China’s growing global economic and political clout, as well as its status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. At the time, many countries, including South Africa, sought to capitalize on China’s market potential and rising influence by cutting official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a self-governed island that China considers a breakaway province.
Despite severing formal ties, South Africa maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan through its liaison office in Pretoria. This office functions similarly to an embassy, handling matters related to trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges. Likewise, South Africa has its own liaison office in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, which facilitates travel, trade, and educational exchanges between the two regions.
However, this delicate arrangement appears to be facing new challenges as South Africa takes steps to distance itself from Taiwan in favor of its partnership with China.
South Africa’s latest move to ask Taiwan to relocate its liaison office has been widely seen as a gesture of appeasement towards China, which regards Taiwan as a part of its territory. China’s influence in South Africa and throughout the African continent has grown significantly over the past two decades, largely due to its substantial investments in infrastructure, mining, and trade. China is now South Africa’s largest trading partner, with the two countries enjoying a robust economic relationship worth billions of dollars annually.
During the China-Africa summit attended by South Africa’s foreign minister Ronald Lamola, China’s position on Taiwan was undoubtedly a topic of interest. Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, have been clear about their ambition to bring Taiwan back under mainland China’s control, and China often pressures countries with unofficial ties to Taiwan to limit their interactions.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning lauded South Africa’s decision, describing it as “correct.” She further reiterated China’s position that “Taiwan independence is unpopular and doomed to failure,” making it clear that Beijing views this as a diplomatic victory in its efforts to isolate Taiwan on the global stage.
The timing of South Africa’s decision is also notable, given the heightened tensions between China and Taiwan. Just this month, Taiwan celebrated the founding of its government and its national day, during which it again rejected China’s sovereignty claims. In response, China held large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, further raising concerns of potential conflict in the region.
Taiwan’s reaction to South Africa’s decision has been one of frustration and disappointment. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-long expressed concern about the potential implications for bilateral relations between Taiwan and South Africa. He indicated that his government would consider closing South Africa’s own liaison office in Taipei, a move that could sever one of the key channels for travel, trade, and educational exchanges between the two regions.
“Should South Africa proceed with this relocation, we may have to reconsider the existence of their liaison office in Taiwan, which will be a significant setback for our mutual engagements,” said Lin Chia-long during a press briefing in Taipei. The closure of this office could have serious repercussions for South African citizens seeking to travel to Taiwan for education, work, or tourism, as well as for businesses engaged in trade between the two regions.
While the Taiwanese government has yet to make a formal decision on whether to close South Africa’s liaison office, the potential loss of these diplomatic and economic ties will be felt on both sides. In recent years, Taiwan has sought to strengthen its relationships with countries around the world, particularly as China intensifies efforts to isolate the island. Losing a foothold in South Africa would be a setback for Taiwan’s broader diplomatic strategy, particularly in Africa.
The diplomatic developments come at a crucial time for South Africa as it prepares to attend the annual BRICS summit, set to be held in Kazan, Russia, next week. The BRICS bloc, which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, represents a significant force in global economic affairs and is often seen as a counterbalance to Western-dominated institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Within the BRICS framework, China plays a particularly influential role, not only because of its economic size but also due to its strategic partnerships with other member countries. For South Africa, aligning more closely with China strengthens its position within BRICS, while also securing Beijing’s continued investment in the country’s infrastructure and economic development.
China’s dominant role in the BRICS alliance also makes it difficult for member countries like South Africa to deviate from China’s foreign policy objectives, particularly on sensitive issues like Taiwan. By moving Taiwan’s liaison office out of Pretoria and rebranding it as a trade office in Johannesburg, South Africa is signaling its commitment to maintaining a non-political relationship with Taiwan, one that focuses purely on economic matters rather than diplomatic recognition.
South Africa’s decision also reflects a broader trend of increasing Chinese influence across Africa. China has become Africa’s largest trading partner, and its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has financed critical infrastructure projects across the continent, from railways to ports and highways. Chinese investments have been pivotal in modernizing infrastructure in many African nations, and this economic partnership has, in turn, influenced political decisions.
Many African countries, like South Africa, have opted to cut official ties with Taiwan in order to maintain favorable relations with China. For instance, in 2018, Burkina Faso severed its diplomatic relations with Taiwan, leaving Eswatini as the only African country that maintains official ties with the island.
However, China’s growing influence in Africa is not without controversy. Critics argue that many of China’s investments come with strings attached, such as long-term debts that can be difficult for African nations to repay. Moreover, there are concerns about the environmental and labor practices associated with Chinese-led projects. Despite these criticisms, most African governments, including South Africa’s, view China as an indispensable partner for economic growth and development.
As South Africa navigates its complex relationships with China and Taiwan, the latest move to relocate Taiwan’s liaison office reflects the increasing pressures smaller nations face in the shifting dynamics of global diplomacy. For South Africa, the decision is a strategic one, meant to align the country more closely with China and the broader BRICS alliance while preserving a non-political relationship with Taiwan.
The coming months will reveal whether this move will have broader repercussions, particularly if Taiwan decides to retaliate by closing South Africa’s liaison office in Taipei. What remains clear is that the geopolitical contest between China and Taiwan continues to have ripple effects across the globe, even in countries thousands of miles away from the contentious waters of the Taiwan Strait.
As the BRICS summit approaches, South Africa’s decision could serve as a litmus test for how countries within the alliance navigate their foreign policy choices, particularly when balancing their economic interests with China against their diplomatic relationships with Taiwan.
