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Representative name of 'Taipei Commercial Office' removed from official website of South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 17, 2025 12:07 PM

The South African government has recently requested that Taiwan relocate its representative office from Pretoria, the administrative capital, and has taken further actions in this regard.

According to Taiwan's United Daily News on Friday, South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has reclassified the "Taipei Commercial Office" under "International organisations represented in South Africa" on its official website, removing the previously listed address in Pretoria and the representative's name, as well as updating the contact information to reflect Johannesburg.

A reporter from Taiwan island reviewed the official website and found that on the "Foreign Representation in South Africa" page under the "International Relations" category, the "Taipei Commercial Office" has been classified as being under the category of "International organisations represented in South Africa." Additionally, the address and phone number in Pretoria for the office have been removed. The listed contact information now belongs to the "Office of Information Division," with the address, phone number and postal box all located in Johannesburg. The email address has also been updated.

Media outlets on the island have also observed that the current "Taipei representative to South Africa," Oliver Liao, has had his introductory text removed from DIRCO's official website, leaving only information about three lower-ranking assistant representatives.

The so-called "ministry of foreign affairs" of Taiwan stated on Thursday that it continues to closely monitor developments in this matter, noting that it has previously expressed the desire for both sides to engage in negotiations and is awaiting South Africa's response.

On December 31, 1997, South Africa broke off "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authorities and established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China the next day.

In September 2024, South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa visited China. During the visit, a joint statement issued by China and South Africa reaffirmed "South Africa's commitment to the One-China Policy, recognised that there is but one China in the world, the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. South Africa supports efforts made by the Chinese Government to achieve national reunification."

In October 2024 and January 2025, the South African government sent two letters to the "Taipei representative office in South Africa," asking it to move out of Pretoria. The DPP authorities immediately urged the US to put pressure on South Africa. In March 2025, South Africa reiterated its request for relocation and unilaterally changed the office's name from "Taipei Liaison Office" to the "Taipei Commercial Office."

A commentary published on chinatimes.com on Friday stated that the "Taipei representative office in South Africa" has refused to relocate and remains steadfast in its position. The South African government did not cut off utilities or forcibly remove the office; instead, it has changed its name, deleted its address and representative title, rendering the "Taipei representative office in South Africa" a mere name without substance.

In addition to South Africa, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority recently announced that in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, it adheres to the one-China principle and, effective April 30, prohibits the entry, exit, and transit of individuals holding Taiwan travel documents.

Some public opinion on the island said that the DPP and Tsai Ing-wen once referred to the "survival diplomacy" policy of Ma Ying-jeou's period as a "diplomatic shock." However, Tsai Ing-wen's administration was characterized as a "diplomatic avalanche," with the number of Taiwan's "diplomatic allies" decreasing sharply from 22 to 12. This suggests that the true "diplomatic shock" occurred after the DPP came to power.

The article stated that if the Lai Ching-te administration does not alter its approach, the forced relocation and renaming of the "representative office in South Africa" may not remain an isolated incident.