South Africa’s demand for Taiwan to relocate its diplomatic office sparks US outrage, threatening crucial trade benefits.
At a Glance
- South Africa orders Taiwan to move its diplomatic office from Pretoria to Johannesburg
- US lawmakers condemn the action, accusing South Africa of yielding to Chinese pressure
- The move jeopardizes South Africa’s trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
- Taiwan plans to lobby the US and allies against South Africa’s demand
- Potential retaliation from Taiwan could impact South African teachers and trade relations
South Africa’s Controversial Demand and US Backlash
South Africa has demanded that Taiwan relocate its diplomatic office from Pretoria to Johannesburg – and the U.S. is now involved in the madness.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from US lawmakers, who view it as a capitulation to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) pressure. The situation threatens to unravel the delicate balance of international relations and economic interests in the region.
US Senator Marsha Blackburn and other lawmakers have condemned South Africa’s actions, suggesting potential consequences such as removal from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program. This program allows African countries tariff-free access to US markets, with South Africa being a major beneficiary. The threat of losing these trade advantages could have severe economic repercussions for the country.
South Africa is working with Communist China in an attempt to force Taiwan to move its diplomatic office out of the South African capital. The United States should not tolerate this behavior from South Africa.
I am calling on @SecBlinken and the Biden administration to make it…
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 22, 2024
Taiwan’s Response and Potential Retaliation
Taiwan, understandably, is not taking this lying down. The island nation plans to lobby the US and its allies against South Africa’s demand, viewing it as an unreasonable move influenced by China. This diplomatic spat could escalate quickly, with Taiwan considering retaliatory measures that could have far-reaching consequences for South Africa.
“The president has made it clear that the Taiwanese government must vacate its Pretoria premises by the end of October and relocate to Johannesburg or action will be taken to ensure that this happens,” Chrispin Phiri, spokesman for South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said.
Taiwan may retaliate by demanding South Africa move its office from Taipei and restricting visas for South Africans. This could affect 5,000 South Africans teaching English in Taipei and significantly impact trade relations between the two countries. It’s a high-stakes game of diplomatic chicken, with economic consequences looming large.
The elephant in the room is China’s growing influence in Africa. South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has longstanding ties with the CCP. However, it’s worth noting that even Nelson Mandela, a revered figure in South African history, maintained relations with both China and Taiwan during his presidency.
The current South African government claims the relocation aligns with diplomatic norms and is unrelated to recent BRICS meetings or China’s military actions. However, this assertion is met with skepticism from both domestic and international observers. The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s main opposition party, vehemently opposes the move, emphasizing Taiwan’s economic contributions and the potential negative impacts on US-South Africa relations.
It’s obvious what they’re up to…