A day after criticizing India for allowing it to open an office in Mumbai, mainland China on Friday said it “appreciated” South Africa’s efforts to encourage Taiwan to move its de facto embassy from its administrative capital, Pretoria. said. South Africa demanded: Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported on Thursday that Taiwan will move its office from Pretoria to Johannesburg by the end of this month due to pressure from the Chinese government, citing unnamed foreign ministry officials in Taipei.According to CNA, South Africa has made it clear that relocation is not a subject of negotiation and that it will close its office if Taiwan does not comply.
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Chinese President Xi visits island facing Taiwan after People’s Liberation Army blockade training
Chinese President Xi visits island facing Taiwan after People’s Liberation Army blockade training
“We applaud South Africa’s right decision to move its Taipei liaison office from the administrative capital Pretoria,” Mao Ning, a spokesperson for mainland China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular press conference on Friday.
“The one-China principle is the political foundation for China to establish and develop diplomatic relations with countries around the world,” he said.
Bloomberg reported on Friday that South Africa hosted the annual BRICS leadership summit in Johannesburg last August (also attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping), and then began pushing Taiwan to make the switch in December, according to unnamed Taipei officials. It was reported that.
The Chinese government considers Taiwan to be part of China and can be reunified by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognize Taiwan as an independent country, but the U.S. government opposes any attempt to occupy the island by force and is committed to providing arms.
