Taiwan mulls chip restrictions amid South Africa name change row

Taipei, July 29 (CNA) Taiwan is considering restricting semiconductor exports to South Africa in response to what it described as a "crude" downgrade of its diplomatic presence in the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday.

To "safeguard national sovereignty and dignity, we are discussing countermeasures with relevant government agencies, including restricting chip exports to South Africa," Philippe Yen (顏嘉良), director-general for MOFA's Department of West Asian and African Affairs, said at a news briefing.

Yen, however, said the types of Taiwanese chips involved in the proposed measure and the duration of any restrictions have yet to be finalized.

He called on the South African government to halt such "crude" action and to initiate negotiations with Taiwan to resolve the issue.

While Taiwan produces the majority of the world's advanced semiconductors, it is not considered a significant supplier of chips to South Africa.

The potential countermeasure was put forth after South Africa issued an official notice on July 21, formalizing the renaming of Taiwan's two missions as the "Taipei Commercial Office in Johannesburg" and the "Taipei Commercial Office in Cape Town."

In its notice, the South African government cited its "one China" policy and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 to justify renaming and downgrading Taiwan's offices in Pretoria and Cape Town.

The notice reiterated its calls for Taiwan to move its representative office out of the capital, Pretoria.

Taipei currently operates one representative office, Taipei Liaison Office in the Republic of South Africa, in Pretoria, and one additional office in Cape Town, in the absence of diplomatic relations.

According to Yen, operations in these two offices remain normal.

MOFA has described the decision, which took place shortly after South African Vice President Paul Mashatile visited China in mid-July, as a sign of intensified pressure from Beijing.

Prior to July, South Africa had twice asked Taiwan to move its representative office from Pretoria to Johannesburg, MOFA said, criticizing it as part of Beijing's campaign to further limit Taiwan's international presence.

Taiwan has since October 2024 urged South Africa to engage in negotiations to no avail.

In March, the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) changed the name of Taiwan's office in Pretoria on its website to "Taipei Commercial Office" and listed it under "international organizations."

Defending the decision, DIRCO said in a statement that relocating and rebranding the Taipei office was "standard diplomatic practice" and "a true reflection of the nonpolitical and nondiplomatic nature of the relationship between the Republic of South Africa and Taiwan."