The Taipei Liaison Office in the Republic of South Africa () represents the interests of Taiwan in South Africa in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, functioning as a de facto embassy. Its counterpart in Taiwan is the Liaison Office of the Republic of South Africa in Taipei.Liaison Office of the Republic of South Africa It has two offices, one in Pretoria and the other in Cape Town.
It has responsibility for the provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo Province, North-West Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Free State.
History The Office was formerly the Embassy of the Republic of China.The Republic Of China Yearbook 1996, David Robertson, Taylor & Francis, 1996, page 692 However, when South Africa recognised the People's Republic of China, its diplomatic relations with Taiwan were terminated.Taiwan loses a major ally, BBC News Online, December 30, 1997 This led to the establishment of the Office in 1998.About Us - Taipei Liaison Office in the RSA
The Office has responsibility for the interests of Taiwan in other African countries, such as Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles, Comoros, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Angola, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Lesotho, as well as the French overseas region of Réunion.Africa Area, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Republic of China)
Taiwan previously had diplomatic relations with Malawi, and was represented in the country by the Embassy of the Republic of China in Lilongwe.Republic of China, United Pacific International, Incorporated, 1988, page 575 Lesotho, which established relations with Taipei in 1966, switched recognition to Beijing in 1983.Taiwan Cuts Ties to Lesotho, Objecting to Peking Relations, UPI, The New York Times, May 16, 1983
Cape Town office The Cape Town OfficeTaipei Liaison Office in Cape Town has responsibility for the provinces of Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape as well as Namibia.
There was also previously an office in Johannesburg, formerly the Consulate-General of the Republic of China.The Republic Of China Yearbook 1987, United Pacific International, Incorporated, 1988, page 576The Republic Of China Yearbook 2003, Kwang Hwa Publishing Company, 2002, page 557 However, owing to financial considerations and the city's proximity to Pretoria, it was closed in 2009.Foreign ministry closes its rep office in Bangladesh, The China Post, July 1, 2009
A Liaison Office was also located in Durban, but has since closed.Taipei alters relations with Pretoria, Taiwan Today, December 27, 1997 Prior to the ending of diplomatic relations, this had been a Consulate General.The Republic Of China Yearbook 1997, David Robertson, Taylor & Francis, 1996, page 715
Representatives (September 2017 - October 2020) (March 2021 -October 2022) (November 2022 -)
Dispute with South African government
In October 2024, the South African government announced plans to rebrand the Taipei Liaison Office as a trade office, along with its South African counterpart in Taipei, arguing that this was "a true reflection of the non-political and non-diplomatic nature of the relationship between the Republic of South Africa and Taiwan".Taipei Liaison Office relocation mischaracterised, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, 18 October 2024 South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation has now categorised the Taiwan Liaison Office as a "Taipei Commercial Office" on its official website, listing it under "International organisations represented in South Africa", with its mailing address that of a now closed information office in Johannesburg instead of the present one in Pretoria.Taiwan Guide, China News, 2008, page 171SA government officially withdraws recognition of Taiwan’s office in Pretoria, Daily Maverick, 23 July 2025 Similarly, instead of listing its email address as one under @mofa.gov.tw, the official government domain, it lists one under @telkomsa.net, that of the South African telecom operator, Telkom.Foreign Representation in South Africa, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, 26 August 2025South Africa downgrades Taiwan status, signaling more China influence, say experts, Radio Free Asia, 20 May, 2025
This prompted strong protests from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which described the South African government's decision as "a unilateral violation of its 1997 agreement with Taiwan", and called on South Africa "to abide by the 1997 legal framework concerning bilateral relations and not employ coercive tactics against Taiwan's liaison offices or take any other actions that might interfere with their operations or services before both sides have reached a consensus through consultations."MOFA strongly protests South African government’s announcement unilaterally renaming and downgrading status of Taiwan’s liaison offices, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 22 July, 2025
See also List of diplomatic missions of Taiwan List of diplomatic missions in South Africa South Africa–Taiwan relations
References
External links
Taipei Liaison Office in the Republic of South Africa Closing of ROC Embassy, South Africa, 1997