China appreciates South Africa's move to relocate Taiwan institution: spokesperson

BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China appreciates the South African government's resolute advancement of the relocation process of Taiwan's institution in South Africa, and believes that Taiwan authorities' attempt to counter the international consensus on the one-China principle by weaponizing semiconductors is bound to fail, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular press briefing when responding to media reports about Taiwan's imposition of semiconductor export restrictions on South Africa after South Africa sought to downgrade the institution and relocate it out of Pretoria, the administrative capital.

"The Taiwan authorities' action is a deliberate move to destabilize global chip industrial and supply chains and counter the prevailing international commitment to the one-China principle by weaponizing chips. Such political manipulation will only end in failure," Guo said.

He added that in recent years, China's chip industry has grown rapidly, and its mature chip capacity accounts for about 28 percent of the global market.

According to South African customs, the Chinese mainland's chip exports to South Africa in 2024 tripled the amount from the Taiwan region. "Taiwan's measures will not substantively affect South Africa's relevant industry, and will only backfire," he said.

"We stand ready to expand cooperation in various fields, including chips, with South Africa and achieve greater progress in promoting the all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era between the two countries," Guo said.