Pretoria cautions Taiwan on politicising representative office relocation

Pretoria has cautioned Taiwan of politicising the South African government’s request that it relocate its representative office in Pretoria to Johannesburg by the end of March.

This was revealed by International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Alvin Botes when he was responding to oral questions in the National Assembly.

Botes, who was answering questions on behalf of Minister Ronald Lamola, said the department has issued the March deadline to Taiwan to relocate their trade office in Pretoria.

“The cabinet has taken a decision to ask Taipei liaison office currently located in Pretoria to relocate to Johannesburg or any other location of their choice, obviously, outside political capital of the country, keeping in line with the China policy,” he said.

The South African government signed a memorandum of understanding and established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in January 1998.

The government recognised the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal representative of the whole of China as well as recognising China’s position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, including the regions of Tibet, Hong Kong and Macau.

The government through Department of International Relations & Cooperation (Dirco) instructed the Taipei liaison office to relocate out of the capital city by 30 October 2024, as far back as December 2023 and April 2024.

But, Taipei has not adhered to the deadline of 30 October last year and the Taipei Liaison Office was given a further six months to relocate.

Botes said they have engaged with the Taipei liaison office and have cited administrative and logistical difficulties to conform to the deadline that the South African government has outlined.

“We are seized with Taipei liaison office and its leaders in terms of the imperative to subscribe to the decision of government of South Africa.

“We have also highlighted the fact that we expect them to have continuous and consistent engagement with Dirco as opposed...to where they send what we characterise as distorted missives to senators and house of representatives in Washington DC, where they are actually problematising politically the decision of the South African cabinet,” he said.

Botes said the decision to ask the Taipei liaison office to move was in line with South Africa’s independent foreign policy that was underpinned by Pan-Africanism, global south solidarity, cooperation with industrialised north and transformational of global governance issues.

“We have an obligation to honour our decision. It was in 1999 when we took a foreign policy decision on One-China policy. It therefore imposes obligation on the government to honour its decision.”

He insisted that South Africa regarded Taiwan as inalienable part of mainland China.

Botes denied that the decision on Taipei liaison office was allowing China to bully South Africa.

“South Africa is clear that South Africa must implement the One-China policy and regard People’s Republic of China as a comprehensive strategic partner bilaterally.

“We have a very peculiar obligation to respond to the decisions of the UN as expressed through the UN General Assembly resolution which advocates, among others that we must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states,” he said.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za