South Africa renames Taiwan office, budgetary constraints delay Johannesburg move

With Taiwan's South African office having been recently downgraded from Taipei Liaison Office (TLO) to Taipei Commercial Office (TCO), the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has revealed that while the impending relocation of the Taiwan office has been set in stone, Taipei has indicated that this might take longer than expected due to budgetary constraints.

The South African government had initially ordered Taiwan to move its Pretoria office to Johannesburg in October 2024, but talks between the sides resulted in a new date of end of March being set.

However, with just under a week to go before the deadline, this might not happen as Taiwan and the South African government are still engaged in a possible change of date due to financial implications associated with this relocation.

DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri has indicated that due to the shift in relations between the two sides since the advent of democracy, this name change reflects the current government's position on its relations with Taiwan.

"The name change is the accurate representation of the status of their office... The apartheid government maintained close ties with Taiwan, this relationship shifted after the country's democratic transition in 1994. Since joining the UN in 1994, South Africa has aligned with international consensus and adhered to UN Resolutions, including Resolution 2758 (1971), which recognises the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate representative of China.

"In 1997, South Africa severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and maintained a non-political, non-diplomatic engagement. In 1998, South Africa formalised its diplomatic relations with the PRC and committed to the One China Policy, which asserts that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China," Phiri stated.

It has been reported that as the deadline looms large over this relocation, Taiwan has formally requested talks to decide on the relocation site, personnel arrangements, and agreement signing details.

"The location of the Taiwan Liaison Office (TLO) is simply a matter of geography and poses no threat to the Republic of South Africa. Our relationship with Taiwan revolves around trade, rather than political or diplomatic concerns. The Taiwanese Authorities have indicated that they cannot adhere to the relocation deadline for various reasons, including budgetary concerns. The discussions are ongoing, and in the interim, South Africa is following domestic processes to undertake administrative adjustments that appropriately reflect the status of Taiwanese representation in South Africa," Phiri further stated.

DIRCO renamed the "Taipei Liaison Office" to the "Taipei Commercial Office" on its website earlier this month, saying the relocation will not hinder but enhance economic ties between the two sides.

"The relocation of the TLO presents a unique opportunity that promises to enhance economic and trade relations. Johannesburg, a thriving commercial and financial hub, is ideally positioned to foster productive economic collaborations.

"South Africa is committed to strengthening its non-diplomatic ties with the island, focusing on lucrative areas such as trade, investment, and education. This strategic approach will be facilitated through a non-binding Memorandum of Arrangement with the Taipei Authorities," Phiri added.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za