ActionSA Concerned About Government’s Sly Efforts to Force Taiwan’s Mission Relocation
Press Statement by Lerato Ngobeni MP
ActionSA Parliamentary Chief Whip
ActionSA expresses deep concern over the South African government’s concerted efforts to force the relocation of the Taiwanese Liaison Office from Pretoria to Johannesburg.
Driven by questionable motives, the government’s actions reflect conduct that undermines the principles of mutual respect and diplomatic courtesy that should be extended to all foreign representatives. This is especially important in relation to those who have maintained friendly diplomatic ties and beneficial trade relations with our Republic—partnerships we must safeguard in an increasingly volatile global environment.
As noted by Minister Ronald Lamola in a reply to our parliamentary question, while it is within the government’s right to determine the location of foreign missions, ActionSA reiterates that this authority must be exercised with fairness and in a manner that upholds the principles of diplomacy—not through acts of coercion that resemble bullying.
ActionSA believes that any such behaviour stands in direct contradiction to the principles of mutual respect and cooperation that South Africa champions on the global stage. We urge government to realign its engagement on this matter in a manner consistent with this diplomatic framework.
ActionSA Concerned About Government’s Sly Efforts to Force Taiwan’s Mission Relocation
ActionSA expresses deep concern over the South African government’s concerted efforts to force the relocation of the Taiwanese Liaison Office from Pretoria to Johannesburg.
Driven by questionable motives, the government’s actions reflect conduct that undermines the principles of mutual respect and diplomatic courtesy that should be extended to all foreign representatives. This is especially important in relation to those who have maintained friendly diplomatic ties and beneficial trade relations with our Republic—partnerships we must safeguard in an increasingly volatile global environment.
As noted by Minister Ronald Lamola in a reply to our parliamentary question, while it is within the government’s right to determine the location of foreign missions, ActionSA reiterates that this authority must be exercised with fairness and in a manner that upholds the principles of diplomacy—not through acts of coercion that resemble bullying.
ActionSA believes that any such behaviour stands in direct contradiction to the principles of mutual respect and cooperation that South Africa champions on the global stage. We urge government to realign its engagement on this matter in a manner consistent with this diplomatic framework.