TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan has no plans to relocate its representative office in South Africa, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Monday (Oct. 21).

At a Legislative Yuan Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee session, Lin said the Pretoria office is operating normally, CNA reported. He explained that the two countries had agreed to establish liaison offices in each other's capitals under a bilateral framework signed in 1997, which South Africa cannot unilaterally breach.

The South African government demanded Taiwan move its office to Johannesburg on Oct. 7. It threatened to close the office if Taiwan did not comply. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has protested the move, Lin said, adding that if South Africa is a country governed by the rule of law, it should negotiate with Taiwan. 

Lin said he directed officials to consider responses, including possibly having South Africa's office move out of Taipei. A MOFA task force has been set up and contingency plans will be implemented based on the progress of negotiations, he said.

Lin said that since last year, Beijing has increased pressure on countries to stop them from engaging with Taiwan, employing tactics such as economic incentives. MOFA continues to monitor the situation closely, he said. 

When asked if this pressure could extend to Taiwan's African ally, Eswatini, Lin said the ministry is aware of China's attempts at coercion and is working to strengthen diplomatic ties with Eswatini to prevent the situation from worsening.

Taiwan is promoting diplomacy focused on democracy, peace, and prosperity. "This aims to leverage Taiwan's economic and technological strengths to foster the prosperity of its allies and like-minded nations,” Lin said in August. Taiwan's prowess in AI technology and semiconductor industries can also serve as a valuable asset for international exchanges and strengthening global relationships, he said.

South Africa severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1998.