South Africa to drop Taiwan for China

November 27, 1996
Web posted at: 1:50 p.m. EST (1850 GMT)

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- President Nelson Mandela said Wednesday that South Africa would drop its long-standing recognition of Taiwan in order to establish full relations with China over the next year.

China considers Taiwan a renegade province and will not establish ties with any country that recognizes Taiwan. South Africa's former white minority government maintained close diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Mandela met with representatives of both China and Taiwan and said he hoped the transition could be a smooth one that was "acceptable to both."

Reuters contributed to this report.

 

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