Demand to Move Taiwan's Liaison Office in South Arica Causes Diplomatic Turmoil
China Times Editorial, October 23, 2024
South Africa’s demand that Taiwan relocate the Taipei Liaison Office from the capital city of Pretoria within six months has posed a significant challenge to bilateral relations. Such a request reflects South Africa government’s leaning toward the “One China” policy, suggesting that Taiwan’s diplomatic space is becoming increasingly constrained. Broadly speaking, the deterioration of cross-strait relations is indeed impacting Taiwan’s diplomacy, leading to heightened international isolation and forcing Taiwan to adopt more flexible and innovative approaches.
The government’s response strategy is crucial in this context. Ensuring Taiwan’s diplomatic position under limited resources and international pressure is a pressing issue. In the future, the Taiwanese government may need to actively seek more informal diplomatic opportunities and strengthen ties with allies and like-minded countries to address the challenges arising from situations like this. South Africa holds a crucial position in Africa. In 1994, when the country transitioned from apartheid policy to multiracial governance, Taiwan spared no effort to maintain diplomatic ties. Although the two nations eventually severed ties in 1998, President Nelson Mandela of South Africa awarded Taiwan’s departing Ambassador Loh I-cheng the country’s highest honor and personally saw him off, demonstrating Taiwan’s deep efforts to build its relationship with South Africa.
Now, however, South Africa is demanding that the Taipei Liaison Office be moved from the capital Pretoria to Johannesburg and rename it as a trade office. This is a clear downgrade of relations, stripping away the political significance by moving the office out of the capital. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the South African representative in Taipei, expressing Taiwan’s protest and refusal to accept this downgrade. U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul expressed strong concern, while Senator Marsha Blackburn called on the Biden administration to warn that if South Africa collaborates with mainland China to bully Taiwan, there will be serious consequences, potentially including the withdrawal of American trade benefits for South Africa. Yet, is it likely the Biden administration will actually take such steps?
In practical terms, Taiwan has limited options to force South Africa to change its stance. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung declared, “If they want us to move, we’ll ask them to do the same.” Other retaliatory measures could include stricter visa scrutiny for South Africans, suspension of educational exchanges, or replacing the 5,000 South African English teachers in Taiwan with teachers from Eswatini. However, Taiwan and South Africa do not have formal diplomatic ties; instead, they have built their relationship on various collaborative exchanges. Forcing South Africa to relocate its liaison office in Taipei or cutting off cooperation would effectively undermine the foundation of bilateral relations, further pushing South Africa closer to Beijing. Moreover, with the mainland China’s economic influence growing in South Africa. The mainland has provided over $10 billion in loans to South African state-owned enterprises since 2015—Taiwan’s leverage in economic terms is far outmatched, and South Africa may be indifferent to reduced exchanges with Taiwan.
Not to mention that during President Tsai Ing-wen’s tenure from 2016 to 2024, Taiwan lost 10 diplomatic allies, leaving only 12 countries worldwide that still recognize the Republic of China. Taiwan’s international legal status is now on the brink. President Lai Ching-te’s stance on Taiwan independence is even more explicit and resolute than Tsai’s. His new “Two-State Theory” has led mainland China to blacklist him, and even more severe diplomatic pressures are likely on the way.
Taiwan and the United States recently attempted to challenge United Nations Resolution 2758 to secure more international space for Taiwan. However, this move instead provoked an intense backlash from Beijing. Recent international statements have increasingly supported Resolution 2758 and the “One China” principle with more assertive language. For example, the joint statement from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in Beijing in September emphasized that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.” South Africa’s decision to relocate the Taipei Liaison Office out of its capital reflects mainland China’s intensified diplomatic pressure on Taiwan.
Diplomacy and cross-strait relations are two sides of the same coin. Taiwan’s isolation on the global stage is not due to any inherent issues but rather due to Beijing’s suppression. Before China’s economic rise, Taiwan was able to use trade and economic leverage to maintain diplomatic allies or enhance relations with countries without formal ties. However, as the mainland grew into the world’s second-largest economy and the largest trade partner of 143 countries, its influence expanded further through the Belt and Road Initiative, offering infrastructure and economic growth opportunities to developing nations. The mainland now provides affordable and high-quality products, from high-tech electric vehicles, green energy solutions, and electronics to everyday goods. With its growing political and military influence, it’s no surprise that countries are increasingly aligning with Beijing.
During President Ma Ying-jeou’s tenure from 2008 to 2016, the “1992 Consensus” helped ease cross-strait tensions, achieving a diplomatic truce and allowing Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). However, Beijing was dissatisfied with Tsai Ing-wen’s approach after she took office, freezing cross-strait relations and rescinding diplomatic goodwill. In this situation, Taiwan has been powerless.
The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) policy of aligning closely with the United States to combat mainland China assumes that American support alone is sufficient to secure Taiwan’s place. Yet the United States is unable to bring Taiwan into the United Nations, or even into major international conferences, while the mainland is able to further restrict Taiwan’s diplomatic space. With President Lai now in office, cross-strait relations have worsened further; People’s Liberation Army (PLA) military drills are occurring right near Taiwan.
The DPP administration has aligned closely with the United States and adopted a stance of countering mainland China, assuming that relying on the “big brother” America would guarantee Taiwan’s security. However, the United States has been unable to secure Taiwan a place in the United Nations or even ensure its participation in international meetings, while the mainland continues to tighten Taiwan’s diplomatic space. Cross-strait relations have deteriorated further since President Lai took office, with Chinese military exercises now encircling Taiwan’s borders. Diplomatic setbacks are no longer surprising.
The government seems unable to offer solutions, nor does it appear willing to address the root of the issue, leaving Taiwan on a path toward increasing isolation and difficulty.
Photo from: United Daily News
Article from: https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20241023004597-262101?chdtv