Taiwan Mulls Chip Export Controls Over South Africa’s Downgrading of De Facto Embassy

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Jul 30, 2025 - 09:55 Updated: Jul 30, 2025 - 09:51
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Taiwan Mulls Chip Export Controls Over South Africa’s Downgrading of De Facto Embassy
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Taiwan is considering export controls on chips in response to South Africa’s unilateral downgrading of Taipei’s de facto embassy, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said on Tuesday.

In a notice published on July 21, the South African government formalized its downgrading of Taipei’s Liaison Offices to Commercial Offices, citing “South Africa’s commitment to the One China Policy” and U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758, which it says “recognises the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate representative of China.”

The notice said that from March 31, the South African government no longer recognized Taipei’s representation in Pretoria, South Africa’s capital.

Taiwan’s MOFA has said that its representative offices in Pretoria and Cape Town are operating as normal.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday at a routine press conference in Taipei, the MOFA’s West Asian and African Affairs Director-General Philippe Yen Chia-Liang said the ministry is working with other departments on countermeasures, “including restrictions on chip exports to South Africa” to “safeguard [Taiwan’s] sovereignty and national dignity.”

Yen described the South African government’s actions as “continued succumbing to Chinese pressure,” and expressed the MOFA’s “deep regret.” He called on Pretoria to promptly begin discussions.

He added that the South African government has “erroneously cited U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2752 and the so-called One China Policy.” The resolution does not say anything about Taiwan’s sovereignty and never mentions the word “Taiwan.”

South Africa’s “One China Policy” aligns with the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) “One China” principle but differs from the “One China Policy” of the United States, which does not recognize Beijing’s position that Taiwan is automatically a part of China.

The Epoch Times reached out to South Africa’s foreign ministry, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), for comment.

The 1971 U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 recognized the PRC as the only representative of China at the United Nations, replacing the Republic of China (ROC) delegates.

The ROC, which was founded in mainland China in 1912, effectively became Taiwan in 1949 after the Nationalists withdrew from the mainland in the Chinese Civil War and Mao Zedong declared the People’s Republic of China in Beijing. The 1971 resolution did not end the Chinese Civil War or settle Taiwan’s status, as no peace treaty was ever signed between the CCP and the ROC.

The CCP has never ruled Taiwan but it views the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has vowed to annex it by peaceful means or by force. The regime has sabotaged Taiwan’s diplomatic relations and blocked its participation in international organizations. It insists that the world should follow its “One China Principle,” which claims that the communist regime is the only legitimate government on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

In 2017, Taiwan was forced to change the names of its representative offices in Nigeria, Bahrain, Ecuador, Jordan, and Dubai. The rebranded office in Nigeria was also moved from the capital, Abuja, to the country’s largest city, Lagos.

Before issuing the formal notice on July 21, South Africa had requested last year for Taiwan to rebrand its Liaison Offices and move from Pretoria to Johannesburg, saying the move would “correct the anomaly” of having the Taiwan office located in the capital city. Beijing applauded South Africa’s move, calling it a ”correct decision.”

Taiwan has refused the request, and tried to engage with South Africa over the matter. According to Yen, Pretoria has declined to engage with Taipei.
Following South Africa’s announcement on July 21, Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chair of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said Congress is “viewing this very closely,” adding that “any changes from what has been the status quo would be viewed very negatively.”

Speaking on July 22 during a markup session of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Smith said, “We are also watching this very closely because it impacts South Africa’s trustworthiness as a partner.

“South Africa signed an agreement with Taiwan in 1997 by which it agreed to let Taiwan have a representative office in Pretoria, with its diplomats accorded certain ranking and privileges. Any unilateral attempt to break this agreement would be unacceptable,” he said.

The lawmaker said that “the unrelenting pressure that the CCP wages against Taiwan on multiple fronts is part of a broader strategy to wear down and conquer the frontline democratic partner, a democratic partner of the United States,” and that it’s a “U.S. concern that democratic countries do not acquiesce and cower to the demands of the Chinese Communist Party.”

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