South Africa asks Taiwan to move its de facto embassy from Pretoria

South Africa’s government said on Friday it has asked Taiwan to move its de facto embassy out of the capital Pretoria, while Taiwan accused it of bowing to pressure from China.South Africa rejected this characterisation, however, saying the move was standard diplomatic practice, given it severed political and diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1997.The Taipei liaison office in Pretoria will be rebranded as a trade office and move to the commercial capital Johannesburg, said the department of international relations and co-operation.“Relocating what will be rebranded as trade offices …