Taiwan accuses China of pressuring South Africa to move liaison office
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has accused China of intensifying its suppression efforts after South Africa demanded that the Taipei Liaison Office in Pretoria be relocated.

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Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has accused China of intensifying its suppression efforts after South Africa demanded that the Taipei Liaison Office in Pretoria be relocated.
The ministry revealed that South Africa first issued the request in October, but Taiwan refused to accept any unilateral changes and entered diplomatic discussions. However, in January, South Africa renewed its demand, setting a deadline for the move by the end of March.
MOFA stated that South Africa is attempting to downgrade the office’s status by reclassifying it as a trade office. “China’s suppression of Taiwan in South Africa has intensified,” the ministry declared, citing the new demand as evidence of Beijing’s growing influence. The ministry also highlighted China’s recent sanctions against Ivan Meyer, federal chair of South Africa’s second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance, for his visit to Taiwan.
In response to the renewed pressure, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) convened an emergency response team during the Lunar New Year holiday. He instructed Department of West Asian and African Affairs Director-General Anthony Ho (賀忠義) to summon South Africa’s newly appointed representative to Taiwan, Zakhele Mnisi, to express Taiwan’s concerns.
MOFA reiterated its rejection of what it called a unilateral breach of bilateral agreements, stating that Taiwan will continue to engage South Africa based on principles of equality and dignity. The ministry urged the South African government, which is set to host this year’s G20 summit, to honor the 1997 legal framework governing bilateral relations. Until both sides reach a mutual agreement, MOFA called on South Africa to avoid coercive measures against Taiwan’s representative office or actions that could disrupt its operations and services for overseas Taiwanese.