Taiwan’s MOFA protests a name change of its representative office by South Africa, which has downgraded it from a liaison to a commercial office. The shift is seen as part of broader tensions in diplomatic relations, with Taiwan asserting its rights under a prior agreement. South Africa’s deadline for this change has added urgency to the ongoing dispute.
On March 16, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) lodged an official protest regarding the South African government’s recent name change for Taiwan’s representative office. The alteration on the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) website rebranded the “Taipei Liaison Office” to “Taipei Commercial Office,” escalating a year-long dispute between Taiwan and South Africa.
This name change reflects an effort by South Africa to downgrade Taiwan’s diplomatic representation, ordering the relocation of its office from Pretoria to Johannesburg. South Africa has established a deadline for this transition by the end of March. MOFA contends that the 1998 agreement following the cessation of formal diplomatic relations permits Taiwan to maintain a liaison office in Pretoria, thereby opposing the unilateral changes proposed by the South African government.
DIRCO’s statement claimed that rebranding the liaison facilities as trade offices aligns with customary diplomatic practice, encapsulating the nonpolitical nature of Taiwan-South Africa relations. However, MOFA asserts that alterations to the office’s location and designation should only occur after reaching an agreement through official negotiations. Taiwan’s office in Pretoria and its representative office in Taipei filed protests against the name change, deeming DIRCO’s reference to U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 as “unreasonable and unacceptable.”
Resolution 2758, enacted in 1971, led to the replacement of the Republic of China (ROC) by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the representative of China at the United Nations, which adds complexity to Taiwan’s international standing and its relations with South Africa.
In summary, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally protested South Africa’s unilateral renaming of its representative office, viewing this as a significant downgrade of its diplomatic status. Despite South Africa’s rationale of adhering to international norms, Taiwan maintains that changes should be negotiated based on their existing agreements. The situation underscores ongoing tensions between Taiwan and South Africa regarding diplomatic recognition and representation.
Original Source: focustaiwan.tw
