South Africa’s China Choice Revisited

This research paper examines the diplomatic process and motivations behind South Africa's 1996 decision to switch official recognition from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the People's Republic of China (PRC). It details President Nelson Mandela's initial attempt at a 'dual recognition' strategy and the internal and external pressures that eventually led to the establishment of formal relations with the PRC in 1998.

• Following his inauguration in May 1994, President Nelson Mandela initially pursued an unprecedented strategy of 'dual recognition' to maintain relations with both the Republic of China (ROC/Taiwan) and the People's Republic of China (PRC). This approach was driven by Taiwan's status as South Africa's sixth largest trading partner, a 10 million USD donation from the ROC to the ANC's 1993 election campaign, and Mandela's uncertainty regarding the PRC's longevity following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
• The decision to switch recognition to the PRC in November 1996 was the result of combined internal and external pressures. Internally, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) argued that recognition was necessary for South Africa to be an 'international player,' and the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) collectively decided that the switch was the best course of action, effectively overriding Mandela's personal preference.
• The PRC exerted significant external pressure to force the switch, including threats to restrict South African access to Hong Kong's airspace and markets after July 1997 and the potential rescinding of Pretoria's Most Favoured Nation trading status. The process was further accelerated by a planned 1997 visit from ROC officials, which would have provoked the PRC.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2018). South Africa’s China Choice Revisited. https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africas-china-choice-revisited/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. South Africa’s China Choice Revisited. 2018. https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africas-china-choice-revisited/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=South Africa’s China Choice Revisited |date=25 July 2018 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africas-china-choice-revisited/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2018south, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{South Africa’s China Choice Revisited}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2018}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africas-china-choice-revisited/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }