In South Africa, the Taiwanese authorities are being asked to find a new location for their liaison office, until now located in Pretoria, the administrative capital of the country. By the end of October, this office will take the name “ commercial office », according to South African officials, and will have to be relocated to Johannesburg, the economic hub of the country. A decision over which the shadow of China hangs.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Claire Bargelès
According to the Taiwanese press, Taipei suspects China of having put pressure on South Africa, its Brics ally, in order to obtain this decision.
The South African Department of Foreign Affairs says this change is a “ standard diplomatic practice “. The rainbow nation has recognized the People’s Republic of China since 1998 and has cut its diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The move of this liaison office from Pretoria, seat of embassies, “ will truly reflect the non-political and non-diplomatic nature of relations between South Africa and Taiwan » specify the authorities in a press release, detailing that the request was issued six months ago.
Beijing, which considers the island to be part of its territory, is trying to isolate it internationally. A successful strategy on the African continent, since relations with Taiwan are now almost non-existent. Only the small southern kingdom of Eswatini continues, with Somaliland, to officially recognize Taipei. A similar move took place in Nigeria in 2018, when Taiwan had to move its offices from the capital, Abuja, to resettle in Lagos.
Also readEswatini, Taiwan’s last allied state on the African continent