Agence France Presse posted on 18 October 2024 an article titled "Tawan Blames China for S. Africa's Order to Move Liaison Office."
South Africa has asked Taiwan to move its "Taipei Liaison Office" from the political capital of Pretoria to the commercial center of Johannesburg and rebrand it as a trade office. At the same time, the South African foreign ministry said it is rebranding the "South African Liaison Office" in Taipei as a trade office. Beijing responded that South Africa made the "right decision."
Comment: Beijing does not object to Taipei having trade offices outside political capitals, but strongly opposes any Taiwan office in another country's political capital. China certainly put pressure on South Africa to make these changes.
