TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The South African government has not handled the Taiwan representative office issue properly, South African MP Janho Engelbrecht has said.
South Africa designated the Taipei Liaison Offices in Pretoria and Cape Town as “Taipei Commercial Offices” in July, 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 Pretoria office to Johannesburg in March, but Taiwan refused.
Transparency in parliament is virtually nonexistent, and concerns previously raised have not been addressed, Engelbrecht said, per CNA. Although South Africa is under a Government of National Unity, foreign policy continues to be dominated by the African National Congress party, he said.
Engelbrecht said that there have been no meaningful consultations between the ANC and other GNU parties. Decisions are often made first and only explained afterward, or sometimes not explained at all, undermining the nature of a unified government.
He warned that if the Taiwan office issue continues to be pushed forward without explanation or oversight, it would weaken parliament’s supervisory role and set a negative precedent.
Engelbrecht said the Taiwanese community and business chambers have made tangible contributions to South Africa through investment, manufacturing, skills training, and job creation. The relationship, he said, is practical and mutually beneficial and should not be sacrificed for short-term geopolitical considerations.
Taiwan's foreign ministry said negotiations with South Africa on protocols for bilateral ties may be held later this year. Yen Chia-liang (顏嘉良), director-general of the Department of West Asian and African Affairs, said that South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation requested negotiations in September and proposed holding in-person consultations in November. However, Taiwan suggested rescheduling the talks to January because South Africa was hosting the G20 summit in November.
