TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday protested the “unilateral” name change of its representative office on a South African government website despite ongoing negotiations.
The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) renamed the Taipei Liaison Office to the "Taipei Commercial Office" on its website, per CNA. It is now categorized under "international organizations represented in South Africa" rather than an individual entity.
MOFA said it has lodged protests through Taiwan's representative office in Pretoria and South Africa's representative office in Taipei. The ministry said that DIRCO's use of UN Resolution 2758 and the “one China” policy to force the office's relocation is “unreasonable, unjustifiable, and unacceptable.”
The ministry criticized South Africa's alignment with China's suppression of Taiwan, saying that it violates the country's longstanding commitment to democracy and freedom. MOFA urged the South African government to respect the 1997 agreement between the two nations.
In October, the South African government demanded that the office be relocated, but Taiwan refused to accept any unilateral changes to the status quo and engaged in diplomatic discussions. In January, South Africa repeated its demand that the office be moved and set the end of March as the deadline.
On March 12, South African media outlet Independent Online published an opinion piece saying that the renaming “reflects more accurately the office’s role and nature.” The article also described the relocation of the office by the end of March as an “important step,” reflecting South Africa's support for Beijing's “one China” principle, which it claimed was confirmed by UN Resolution 2758.
MOFA told CNA that after receiving South Africa's letter in January, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) held a meeting on how to respond. The representative office in South Africa was instructed to engage with the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
MOFA said the two sides are exchanging opinions on potential modifications to the legal framework governing bilateral relations. Taiwan has also urged South Africa to discuss details such as the location, timing, delegations, and signing methods for formal negotiations.
The ministry added that it is monitoring the situation. It said South Africa made a “unilateral decision” to change the name of Taiwan’s representative office on its official website while bilateral negotiations are still ongoing, and no consensus has been reached.
MOFA urged South Africa to engage in discussions on relevant details as soon as possible and to refrain from taking any actions that violate the 1997 bilateral agreement.
At the end of 1997, South Africa severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and switched recognition to China. However, South Africa agreed to allow Taiwan to establish an official institution in Pretoria under the name Taipei Liaison Office, with a status equivalent to an embassy.
