The Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that it urged the South African government not to make any decisions that would jeopardize the friendship between the two nations. The ministry’s Department of West Asian and African Affairs Director-General Anthony Chung-Yi Ho (賀忠義) met with South African Representative Hugh Graham Anderson the day before to convey Taiwan’s position and concerns.
Earlier this month, the South African government requested that Taiwan relocate its representative office from Pretoria by October 30, reportedly due to pressure from China. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) rejected this demand, stating that it violates existing bilateral agreements.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jeff Liu (劉永健) said that the ministry has called on the South African government not to implement any forceful measures that could disrupt the operations of Taiwan’s representative office or impact services for Taiwanese nationals until a consensus is reached. He noted that Taiwan will continue to engage in discussions about future bilateral relations based on principles of reciprocity and respect.
Liu also reported some progress in discussions between the two sides and assured that any significant developments would be communicated to the public.