South Africa asked Taiwan to move its liaison office out of the administrative capital, Pretoria, in order to emphasize the countries’ “non-diplomatic” ties. China claims Taiwan as part of its own territory.

South Africa has asked Taiwan to move its unofficial embassy out of its administrative capital, Pretoria, the South African Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

China claims the self-governing island of Taiwan as part of its own territory. Taiwan’s government is only officially recognized by a dozen countries, while many states maintain informal diplomatic ties with the island.

South Africa severed formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1997 but maintains informal ties.

China is South Africa’s largest trade partner. Both states are members of the BRICS bloc of developing economies which is set to hold its annual summit next week in the Russian city of Kazan.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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    2 months ago

    Isn’t it time for the world to admit it’s really stupid to not acknowledge that an island that has total autonomy for decades is not part of another country?

    • twinnie@feddit.uk
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      2 months ago

      I haven’t clarified this with the ultimate source of all truth (ChatGPT) but I’m pretty sure there’s not actually that many countries that officially recognise Taiwan as anything independent country.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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        2 months ago

        Literally in the part of the article the OP posted in the body of this post:

        Taiwan’s government is only officially recognized by a dozen countries, while many states maintain informal diplomatic ties with the island.

    • Saleh@feddit.org
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      2 months ago

      It is not the stated will of Taiwan. Taiwan also officially follows the One China principle.

      So each side claims to be the rightful sovereign of all of China, while the other side is occupying some of that area.

      • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net
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        2 months ago

        Officially, yes, but it’s complicated. Unofficially they’re no longer supporting that claim but it remains in the constitution. And ironically, there is concern that relinquishing the claim over the mainland might be perceived as a pro-independence move and would antagonize the mainland authorities.