TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, 外交部) announced on Tuesday (July 29) that the government is considering semiconductor export restrictions against South Africa following Pretoria's decision to rename Taiwan's diplomatic offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The ministry confirmed that chip export limitations are among the countermeasures being evaluated in response to South Africa's diplomatic pressure. This escalation marks a significant shift in Taiwan's approach to protecting its international representation amid growing Chinese influence.
Yen Chia-Liang (顏嘉良), director-general of Taiwan's Department of West Asian and African Affairs (亞西及非洲司), confirmed that multiple government agencies are evaluating potential countermeasures against South Africa. The restrictions under consideration specifically target semiconductor exports, Taiwan's most valuable technology sector. Yen criticized South Africa's misinterpretation of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 and Beijing's One China policy, calling for resumed bilateral consultations to resolve the diplomatic impasse.
Taiwan's foreign ministry stressed the critical importance of honoring the 1997 bilateral legal framework agreement, which South Africa has avoided discussing despite repeated diplomatic overtures. Yen expressed hope that Pretoria would initiate meaningful negotiations promptly to prevent further deterioration of bilateral relations. The scope and timeline for implementing semiconductor export restrictions remain under active deliberation among Taiwan's relevant government agencies, reflecting the gravity of the diplomatic crisis.
The diplomatic crisis erupted in July when South Africa unilaterally renamed the Taipei Liaison Office to the Taipei Commercial Office in the Republic of South Africa, significantly downgrading Taiwan's official status. Prior to this renaming, South African authorities had already demanded that Taiwan's representative office relocate from Cape Town to Johannesburg under mounting pressure from Beijing. These actions represent a clear capitulation to China's diplomatic campaign to isolate Taiwan internationally and undermine its sovereign representation abroad. ◼