TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan has temporarily paused plans to impose export controls on semiconductor shipments to South Africa after Pretoria requested diplomatic discussions.

The suspension comes after South Africa downgraded Taiwan’s representative offices. On Tuesday, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs announced that 47 categories of goods, including semiconductor chips, would require prior approval for export to South Africa, according to CNA.

The measures had not yet taken effect. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday that, in response to South Africa’s request for talks on the status of Taiwan’s diplomatic mission, the two ministries coordinated to delay the export control notice.

China criticized Taiwan’s planned export controls. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun called the move an attempt to disrupt the global semiconductor industry and supply chains.

Despite limited trade volumes with Taiwan, South African officials stressed the strategic importance of semiconductors. Ryan Smith, international relations spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance, said Taiwanese chips remain the preferred choice for manufacturers and cannot be easily replaced through trade with another country.

Taiwan’s suspension highlights the leverage it holds through major chip producers such as TSMC. While South Africa imports only a small share of the affected technology, the episode may draw attention from other developing countries that rely on Taiwanese chips for industries like automotive manufacturing and data centers, even while maintaining close economic ties with China, Financial Times reported.

Since ending diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1997, South Africa has gradually pushed for Taiwan’s mission to move from Pretoria to Johannesburg, in what Taiwan regards as a unilateral breach of an existing agreement. The effort gained momentum in 2023 following a BRICS summit in South Africa attended by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and is believed to be advancing ahead of the G20 summit in November.

The South African government has twice requested that Taiwan relocate its mission since October 2024. In July, South Africa renamed Taiwan’s offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town as the Taipei Commercial Offices, classified them under “international organizations,” and listed the Taiwan mission's Pretoria address as Johannesburg on government channels.

Taiwan’s economic ministry stated that South Africa’s actions, including renaming, downgrading, and delaying visas, have ignored Taiwan’s appeals, undermined national and public security, and negatively affected Taiwan’s economic and trade development.