TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan has firmly rejected South Africa’s request to relocate its representative office from Pretoria to Johannesburg.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jeff Liu addressed the media on Tuesday, asserting that the demand constitutes a breach of an agreement established in 1997 concerning the positioning of mutual representative offices after formal diplomatic ties were severed.
Liu emphasized the unreasonableness of the request, stating, “Facing this kind of unreasonable demand, our side cannot grant our acceptance.”

South Africa operates a liaison office in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, reflecting the strong commercial ties between the two regions.
Liu reiterated the commitment expressed by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung during a legislative session on Monday, emphasizing that Taiwan is “prepared for all eventualities” regarding this situation.
He affirmed that the office rests within Taiwanese jurisdiction, thereby granting Taipei the authority to decide its location and status.

China, which views Taiwan as a territory that it could annex by force if necessary, consistently endeavors to restrict Taiwan’s international standing.
Despite this, Taiwan maintains substantial unofficial relations with the U.S. and several other significant nations.
Last week, South Africa publicly acknowledged its request for Taiwan to relocate its liaison office, which is perceived as a concession to China.
China has leveraged its influence to exclude Taiwan from the United Nations and its agencies, including the World Health Organization, while limiting Taiwan’s official diplomatic partners to just 11 nations and the Vatican.

Additionally, China has increased military pressure on Taiwan, recently conducting extensive live-fire military exercises near its coastal Fujian province, which lies across from Taiwan.
The request from South Africa has not only created ripples in Taiwan but has also garnered attention in the U.S. Congress.
Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn expressed her views on the social platform X, declaring that “the United States should not tolerate this behavior from South Africa.”
She urged the Biden administration to assert that there would be repercussions if South Africa collaborates with the Chinese Communist Party to intimidate Taiwan, including the possibility of eliminating South Africa from a significant trade program.
Blackburn emphasized that the U.S. must not extend trading advantages to nations that prioritize China’s influence over relationships with democratic allies.