DA Seeks Transparency on Taiwan-South Africa Agreement After Diplomatic Snub

Was the downgrade of Taiwan’s liaison office in Pretoria justified?

This is the aim of a Democratic Alliance (DA) information request to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

The DA has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to DIRCO, which seeks the full and unredacted copy of the 1997 Exchange of Notes between South Africa and Taiwan, an agreement that has been kept confidential since its signing.

The Exchange of Notes, which laid out the framework for South Africa’s working relationship with Taiwan, was signed just before South Africa formally adopted the One China Policy in the 1990s. Prior to that South Africa had given Taipei diplomatic recognition, rather than Beijing, but that changed in 1998 with the Exchange of Notes. However, the diplomatic landscape shifted dramatically in July 2025, when DIRCO published a GovernmentGazette that downgraded the status of the Taipei Liaison Office (TLO) in Pretoria. In addition, in 2024 DIRCO had also instructed Taipei to move its liaison office from Pretoria to Johannesburg, allegedly under pressure from Beijing.

The DA said the downgrading of the TLO marked an abrupt and undiplomatic break in relations, with no formal talks or consultation with Taiwan’s representatives prior to the decision.

The DA says the move has seriously harmed South Africa's trade relations with Taiwan, a key player in the global semiconductor industry. Since the publication of the gazette, South Africa has experienced a 50% drop in exports to Taiwan, including a decline in access to vital manufacturing components such as Taiwanese silicon chips, which are crucial for local manufacturing industries.

According to DA spokesperson on International Relations, Ryan Smith, the decision to downgrade the TLO in Pretoria represents a "self-inflicted blow" to South Africa’s economy. Smith pointed out that Taiwan holds significant potential as both an export market for South African agricultural goods and a source of tourism revenue. Yet this potential has been undermined by DIRCO’s alignment with African National Congress-led political interests rather than the broader national interest.

Smith also criticised International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola’s assertion that the downgrade was in line with international consensus, labelling it as “false.” He pointed to other BRICS countries, such as Brazil and India, which continue to maintain Taiwanese foreign missions in their capitals despite their own commitments to the One China Policy. According to Smith, these countries recognise the importance of maintaining trade relations with Taiwan, underscoring South Africa’s misguided stance.

Smith emphasised that genuine non-alignment means South Africa should not be forced to pick sides in international trade but instead should focus on expanding economic opportunities.

“South Africa must pursue its national interest independent of external influence,” Smith concluded. “It is now time for the government to explain why it has taken this irrational step, which harms the country’s trade and economic prospects.”