Spanish
Taiwanese authorities decided this Tuesday to restrict the export of semiconductors to South Africa, citing "national security" reasons, after the South African Executive renamed the de facto Taiwanese embassies in that country last July due to alleged diplomatic pressure from China.
Sales of Taiwanese 'chips' to South Africa will have to be approved by the competent authorities, the Taiwan International Trade Administration said in a statement.
"The actions of the South African government have endangered Taiwan's national and public security," the Administration said, adding that it imposed "trade restrictions" to "protect Taiwan's sovereignty, security, and normal economic and trade development."
The restrictions affect 47 product categories related to semiconductors, of which Taiwan is one of the world's largest producers.
The announcement comes after months of tensions between Taiwan and the African country.
According to the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry, South Africa's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation issued a notice on July 21 stating that, starting next April 1, Taiwan's liaison offices in that country will change their names to Taipei Commercial Office in Johannesburg and Taipei Commercial Office in Cape Town.
The director of the Department of West Asian and African Affairs of the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yen Chia-liang, then described the South African government's decision as "abrupt" and stated that Taipei would consider restricting the sale of semiconductors to South Africa in retaliation.
The announcement came a few days after the visit of South African Vice President Paul Mashatile to China.
Since October of last year, the Taiwanese government has repeatedly expressed its refusal to move its de facto embassy from Pretoria, a city where most diplomatic representations in the country are concentrated.
Taiwan's diplomatic recognition has been considerably reduced in recent years due to increasing pressure from China, which considers the island, self-governed since 1949, as an inalienable part of its territory.
Currently, Taiwan only retains the diplomatic support of twelve states: seven Latin American and Caribbean, three Oceanic, one African (Eswatini, formerly Swaziland) and one European (Vatican City).
