By John Ikani
South Africa has given Taiwan a six-month notice to shift its de facto embassy from Pretoria, the nation’s political heart, to Johannesburg, the economic powerhouse.
This demand signals China’s growing influence over developing countries, with Taiwan accusing South Africa of yielding to Chinese pressure, while Beijing praised the decision.
“The One China principle is the bedrock for China’s diplomatic relationships with other nations. It is a widely accepted international norm,” stated Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry.
“We commend South Africa’s correct decision to relocate Taiwan’s office from Pretoria. Taiwan’s pursuit of independence is not supported and is bound to fail,” she added.
China has maintained an official embassy in South Africa since 1998, following Pretoria’s severing of formal ties with Taiwan in favor of Beijing’s sovereignty claim.
Despite this, South Africa has maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan, a practice shared by several other countries.
The timing of this decision coincides with growing tensions between China and Taiwan, which recently celebrated its national day and reaffirmed its stance against China’s sovereignty claims.
Soon after, China conducted military exercises around Taiwan, further escalating the situation.
As South Africa’s largest global trading partner, China plays a key role in Pretoria’s economic ambitions, with both countries seeking to deepen their ties.
Both nations are members of the BRICS alliance, which is set to meet in Russia next week for its annual summit.
