TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan plans to relocate its representative office in South Africa from Pretoria to Johannesburg, the nation’s primary center for economic activity.

Earlier this week, the South African government made the abrupt demand for Taiwan to relocate the office out of Pretoria. Initial reports said the government called for the move to be made by the end of October.

However, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) later clarified that it would allow six months for the transfer, reported Politics Web. 

In addition to moving locations from Pretoria to Johannesburg, the office has also been instructed to change its official name from the Taipei Liaison Office to simply a “trade office.” 

DIRCO commented that the changes will better reflect the relations between South Africa and Taiwan as “nonpolitical” and “nondiplomatic.” 

An official at Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told international media that Chinese pressure on the South African government was the reason for the sudden demand to relocate, reported VOA.