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South Africa |
Republic of China – South Africa relations refers to the current and historical relationship between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Republic of South Africa. The Republic of China and South Africa established diplomatic ties in 1949. The ties lasted and grew throughout the apartheid-era in South Africa and officially ended in January 1998 when South African President Nelson Mandela recognized the People's Republic of China. Despite the recognition of the PR China, Taiwan and South Africa maintained a trade relationship.
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Chinese South Africans are an ethnic group of Chinese diaspora in South Africa. They and their ancestors immigrated to South Africa beginning during the Dutch colonial era in the Cape Colony. Among the Chinese South Africans are Taiwanese businesspeople who settled in South Africa during the apartheid era.[1]
Relations were established in 1949 and grew considerably in 1971 after United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 withdrew international recognition of the Republic of China in favor of the People's Republic of China. South Africa had previously maintained cool relations with Taiwan due to fears that closer relations would increase mainland China's support for the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, a liberation movement which already had ties to Communist China.[2]:511 Trade and political relations grew until the 1990s, when Nelson Mandela withdrew recognition of the ROC in favor of the mainland PRC. In 1976, both South Africa and the ROC upgraded their consulates to full embassy status. Both shared a similar international worldview, with the Taiwanese ambassador to South Africa H.K. Yang noting, "South Africa and my country are joined in the fight against communism. We are in favour of free enterprise, democracy and freedom".[2]:511 Relations expanded in the 1980s with South African leader P. W. Botha visiting in 1980 as Prime Minister and in 1986 as State President. Vice President of the Republic of China Hsieh Tung-min was present when the 1983 South African Constitution was inaugurated.[2]:512
Taiwan and South Africa cooperated significantly in the military arena. In 1980, the two countries signed an agreement for Taiwan to send South Africa a total of 4,000 tons of uranium over six years. Taiwan, South Africa and Israel shared nuclear technology during this period.[2]:512
In 1970 total two-way trade between South Africa and Republic of China amounted to US$7 million, by 1972 total two-way trade amounted to US$57 million with the balance strongly in South Africa's favour. This initial increase was due to strong South African exports of maize to Taiwan in 1971.[3]:155
In 1975, the two governments signed a trade agreement which expanded trade relations considerably. In 1985, 69% of Taiwanese imports from South Africa were either minerals or metals, while South Africa primarily imported textiles (27%) and machinery (22%). Taiwan, along with other newly industrialized Asian countries Hong Kong and South Korea, invested heavily in the internationally unrecognized bantustans of Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Ciskei and Venda.[2]:509 Trade relations grew rapidly in the late 1980s; in 1986, trade volume totaled $546 million and a year later, it totaled $911 million, an increase of 67% in one year.[2]:512 As of 1989, 2,000 visas had been issued for South African and Taiwanese businesspeople to visit and conduct business in each other's countries. In 1987, Taiwan had $100 million invested in the South African economy. In 1996, South Africa estimated that it received approximately $80 million a year in aid from Taiwan.[4] Included in that were scholarships for 15 South African students in Taiwan, a small business development project, a vocational training school and agricultural programs. South Africa also owed Taiwan approximately $50 million.[4]
Taiwan and South Africa established several cultural exchanges in the 1980s; in 1984, South African General Johann Coetzee was awarded the Yun Hai medal of Taiwan for promoting the "traditional friendship and military cooperation" between the two countries. In 1987, an exchange program was established between the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra and the Taipei Arts Festival.[2]:512
The fall of the apartheid reign and the resulting democratic elections of 1994 considerably changed Taiwan's relations with South Africa. The Taiwanese government was aware that the new ANC lead government was not likely to look on the Taiwanese government's support to apartheid South Africa during the years before 1994. In an attempt to improve relations with the new government the Taiwanese government embarked on a public relations campaign. Spending millions of dollars on flying out government officials, parliamentarians and representatives from South Africa's political parties to show them around the island. Even going as far as first donating US$10 million followed by another US$5 million donation to the ANC's election campaign in 1994.[3]:165
Despite having some initial success the South African government was concerned how its relationship with Taiwan would effect its trade and diplomatic operations in the region after the British handover of Hong Kong in 1997. The South Africans feared that after the hand over Beijing might force the closure of South Africa's diplomatic offices and the country would no longer be allowed to use the city as a transit route fore air traffic and trade with the rest of the region.[3]:168 Additionally the leadership of the Communist Party of South Africa, many of whom held important positions in the new government, were strongly in support of shifting recognition to the Peoples Republic of China.[3]:168-169
In December 1996, South Africa announced it would end relations with Taiwan in favour of the People's Republic of China in January 1998; in response, Taiwan immediately canceled all aid programs and recalled its ambassador to South Africa.[4]
Despite the derecognition of Taiwan, the two countries maintained trade relations; As of 2010, the Bank of Taiwan still maintained a branch in South Africa[5] and in 2010 Taiwan ranked as South Africa's 16th largest importer, with goods totaling over 5.9 million rand ($861,000).[6]
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