Taiwan Protests Name Change of Representative Office in South Africa

Taiwan’s MOFA has protested a name change of its representative office on a South African government site, viewing it as a unilateral downgrade to a commercial office. South Africa has set a relocation deadline, while Taiwan cites past agreements to maintain its office identity. MOFA has lodged formal protests regarding this issue.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Taiwan has formally protested a recent name change on the website of the South African government regarding Taiwan’s representative office. The update on the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) website renaming the “Taipei Liaison Office” to the “Taipei Commercial Office” marks a significant escalation in an ongoing dispute, as Taiwan’s representatives were previously ordered to vacate Pretoria.

MOFA noted that the South African government is attempting to downgrade Taiwan’s representative office to a trade office based in Johannesburg, asserting this name change reflects a non-diplomatic relationship. The South African government has set a deadline for the rebranding and relocation to be completed by the end of March.

In 2020, DIRCO stated that rebranding offices in both Taipei and Johannesburg is aligned with diplomatic standards, further indicating the nature of relations with Taiwan. However, MOFA claimed that an agreement from 1998 allows Taiwan to maintain a liaison office in Pretoria, and any modifications to the office’s designation should occur only through mutual consent after negotiations.

Regarding the unilateral name alteration, MOFA has lodged formal protests through its Pretoria office and directly to the South African representative office in Taipei. They characterized DIRCO’s justifications, including adherence to U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758, as unreasonable and unacceptable. This resolution, adopted in 1971, resulted in the People’s Republic of China taking over the representation of China at the United Nations, further complicating Taiwan’s international status.

In summary, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has protested the recent renaming of its representative office in South Africa as part of a deteriorating diplomatic relationship. The South African government’s push to reclassify the office reflects ongoing tensions and a unilateral approach to diplomatic recognition. Taiwan asserts its rights based on previous agreements and aims to resolve the matter through official negotiations.

Original Source: focustaiwan.tw