South Africa has demanded that the Taiwan representative office be moved out of the capital city of Pretoria before the end of October or be forcefully closed. The ultimatum was made on October 7, the day the Taiwan office was holding their National Day celebrations, according to an anonymous diplomatic source.
DPP Secretary-General Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said that because China is worried by the expansion of Taiwan's international space, it is actively employing intimidation measures. Wu added that this regrettable request will force the Foreign Ministry to take countermeasures.
DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) stated that this year’s World Movement for Democracy will be held in South Africa in November, concluding that this alleged move by China may be to undermine Taiwan’s presence at this significant global assembly. KMT Legislator Chen Yu Jen (陳玉珍) said that the Lai administration should review its policy direction, criticizing that diplomatic relations will improve when cross-strait relations do.
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is expected to fully explain the government's specific countermeasures at the Legislative Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee meeting next week.