Taiwan is threatening retaliation if it's forced to move its office from Pretoria, say Taiwanese media outlets, as sources claim the SA government is acting under pressure from China.
The South African government is provoking a damaging row with Taiwan by demanding that that country's government move its office out of Pretoria. The SA government is acting under pressure from the Chinese government, say diplomats.
Taiwan is resisting the pressure and is threatening retaliation, including suspending educational exchanges, tightening up on visas for South Africans, and demanding that SA move its office in Taiwan out of the capital, Taipei, according to Taiwanese media.
Daily Maverick has independently confirmed that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has insisted that Taiwan move its office from Pretoria, probably to Johannesburg, by the end of this month.
Our sources told us that Taiwan was resisting the pressure. Taiwan's foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, has instructed his officials to study possible countermeasures against the South African government, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA), quoting unnamed official sources.
Like most countries in the world, South Africa does not officially recognise Taiwan as a country separate from China, which claims the island state is part of it. However, since South Africa switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1998, the South African government has allowed Taiwan to maintain an official presence in...
