South Africa to Relocate Taiwan Office to Johannesburg
South Africa has officially announced plans to move the Taiwan office from Pretoria to Johannesburg and rename it as the Taiwan Commercial Office. This decision aligns with South Africa’s strategy to engage with Taiwan primarily in trade and commerce, consistent with global practices in other major cities.
The relocation, originally set for October 2024, has been delayed to March 2025 due to ongoing negotiations. Minister Ronald Lamola has emphasized that the transition is now confirmed and finalized. However, Taiwan has expressed opposition, accusing Lamola of distorting its diplomatic presence globally to validate the downgrade.
This disagreement highlights the underlying tensions stemming from South Africa’s shift in diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1997. Despite the pushback from Taiwan, South Africa remains steadfast in its decision to relocate the Taiwan office to Johannesburg.
Source: IOL
