The Straits Times reprinted on 6 October 2025 an article by Bloomberg titled "Chinese Pressure Shreds Taiwan's Relationship with South Africa" by Antony Squazzin.
Under pressure from Beijing, the Taipei Liaison Office in the political capital of Pretoria is being forced by the South African government to move to the commercial capital of Johannesburg. There has been a steady decline in South Africa-Taiwan relations. The current head of the Taipei Liaison Office said, "we are not welcome here."
The Daily Maverick published on 23 July 2025 an article titled "SA Government Officially Withdraws Recognition of Taiwan's Office in Pretoria" by Peter Fabricius.
The South African government officially withdrew its recognition of Taipei's representative office in the capital of Pretoria. South Africa, under pressure from Beijing, insists that the office be renamed the Taipei Commercial Office and moved to the commercial center of Johannesburg. The government in Taipei is refusing to accept the decision.
Reuters published on 3 February 2025 an article titled "Taiwan Says South Africa Gives March Deadline to Move Office from Pretoria."
Under pressure from Beijing, the South African government has given Taiwan until the end of March to move its liaison office in the capital city of Pretoria outside the capital and to rename it as a trade office.
The Diplomat published on 30 October 2024 a commentary titled "Taiwan's Shrinking Footprint in Africa Amid Chinese Pressure" by Samir Bhattacharya, India's Observer Research Foundation.
Eswatini is the only country in Africa that recognizes Taiwan rather than China. China has now pressured South Africa to demand that Taiwan move its "Taipei Liaison Office" from the political capital of Pretoria to the commercial capital of Johannesburg and rename it a trade office. Taiwan, citing a 1997 agreement with South Africa, is objecting to the demand. There has been no official, public comment from the US government.
The Daily Maverick published on 17 October 2024 an article titled "Diplomatic Row Looms after South African Government Demands That Taiwan Move Its Office Out of Pretoria" by Peter Fabricius.
The article provides additional background on the decision by South Africa, at the request of China, that Taiwan move its "Taipei Liaison Office" from the political capital of Pretoria to the commercial center of Johannesburg.
The Associated Press published on 22 October 2024 an article titled "Taiwan Rejects South African Demand to Move Its Representative Office from Capital" by Christopher Bodeen.
Taiwan has rejected South Africa's demand that it moves its liaison office in the political capital of Pretoria to the commercial center of Johannesburg, arguing this would violate a 1997 agreement between the two sides on the location of their mutual representative offices.
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.
