Taiwan has voiced strong objections to the renaming of its representative office on an official South African government website, a move it sees as part of growing pressure from China to diminish its international standing.
The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation recently changed the name of Taiwan’s de facto embassy from the “Taipei Liaison Office” to the “Taipei Commercial Office” on its website, Taiwan’s foreign ministry announced on Sunday. Additionally, the ministry pointed out that the office had been listed under “international organizations represented in South Africa” rather than being recognized as an individual entity.
The name change appears to align with South Africa’s broader efforts to strengthen ties with China, particularly in the wake of tensions with the United States during the Donald Trump administration. South Africa has set a deadline for Taiwan to change the name of its representative office and to relocate the unofficial embassy from Pretoria, the administrative capital, to Johannesburg, where it would be classified strictly as a trade office.
Taiwan has condemned the decision, stating that it reflects China’s growing influence and pressure on South Africa to conform to the “One-China policy.” The island considers the demand to rename and relocate the office as part of a broader pattern of diplomatic suppression.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using military force to achieve what it calls “reunification.” Since its separation from mainland China in 1949, Taiwan has faced increasing diplomatic isolation, with only 12 nations officially recognizing it. In Africa, its sole remaining diplomatic ally is Eswatini, which is geographically surrounded by South Africa.
Taiwan has lodged formal protests through both its representative office in Pretoria and South Africa’s office in Taipei, arguing that South Africa’s application of the “One-China policy” to downgrade its mission is “unreasonable, unjustifiable, and unacceptable.”
South Africa formally severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1997, following its decision to establish official ties with Beijing. However, it had allowed Taiwan to maintain a presence through its liaison office in Pretoria. In recent decades, several African nations, including Liberia, Chad, Senegal, and Gambia, have also cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan, reinforcing Beijing’s efforts to limit Taiwan’s global presence.
In February, the South African government defended the move, asserting that relocating the Taiwan office from Pretoria to Johannesburg would “accurately reflect the non-political and non-diplomatic nature of the relationship between the Republic of South Africa and Taiwan.”
In response, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-long suggested that Taiwan might retaliate by closing South Africa’s liaison office in Taipei, potentially disrupting travel, trade, and educational exchanges between the two sides.
South Africa has strong economic ties with China, which is its largest trading partner. The two countries are also members of the BRICS bloc, a grouping of major developing economies. South Africa is keen to expand cooperation with China, particularly in renewable energy and infrastructure development.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning praised South Africa’s decision, stating, “We appreciate South Africa’s correct decision to relocate the Taipei liaison office in South Africa out of its administrative capital.” Mao further asserted that “Taiwan independence is unpopular and doomed to failure.”
China recently reassured South Africa of its commitment to being a “trustworthy and reliable” partner, particularly as tensions between South Africa and the United States persist. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the strong bilateral relationship between the two nations, noting that “China and South Africa have always understood and supported each other, carrying out close exchanges, communication, and coordination.”
Relations between South Africa and the U.S. have experienced turbulence, particularly during the Trump administration. The U.S. expelled South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool after Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled him “a race-baiting politician.”
Additionally, Trump issued an executive order cutting financial aid to South Africa, citing concerns over its domestic and foreign policies. The order criticized the South African government, alleging that it was pursuing “anti-white policies” and supporting “bad actors” such as Hamas and Iran. Trump also made false claims that the South African government was seizing land from white Afrikaner farmers in violation of their rights under a controversial expropriation law.
Taiwan continues to face mounting diplomatic challenges as China exerts influence over countries that previously maintained informal relations with the island. The latest developments in South Africa highlight how Beijing’s global pressure campaign is affecting Taiwan’s standing on the world stage.
