TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The foreign ministry condemned South Africa’s decision to rename Taiwan’s two representative offices on Monday.

In a government publication, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation designated the Taipei Liaison Offices in Pretoria and Cape Town to “Taipei Commercial Offices,” citing UN Resolution 2758 and its “one China” policy as justification. It also reiterated its request that the Pretoria office be moved to Johannesburg.

South Africa previously directed Taiwan to move the office to Johannesburg in March but Taiwan refused.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) has instructed the Department of West Asian and African Affairs and the Pretoria office in South Africa to lodge stern protests with the South African Liaison Office in Taipei and DIRCO, according to the foreign ministry. The office has also been instructed to uphold the principles of equality and dignity while continuing negotiations with DIRCO.

The foreign ministry said the unilateral renaming “clearly shows that China’s suppression of Taiwan in South Africa has intensified.” It also shows that South Africa is willing to yield to pressure from China, the ministry added. 

The foreign ministry rejected South Africa’s unilateral breach of the 1997 bilateral agreement and said it would take “corresponding countermeasures” depending on the situation. 

It urged South Africa to abide by the legal framework established under the 1997 bilateral relations agreement.