Taiwan Suspends Chip Export Controls on South Africa Following Agreement to Dialogue

Taiwan Imposes Export Controls Amid Diplomatic Row

On September 23, 2025, Taiwan announced the imposition of unilateral semiconductor export controls on South Africa, citing actions by Pretoria that Taipei deemed to undermine its national and public security. The decision mandated prior approval for 47 specific products, including integrated circuits (IC), chips, and memory, destined for South Africa. This move marked a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

Roots of the Dispute: Downgrading of Representative Offices

The controls were a direct response to South Africa's repeated downgrading and renaming of Taiwan's representative offices. On July 21, South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) unilaterally announced the renaming of Taiwan's offices to the 'Taipei Commercial Office in Johannesburg' and the 'Taipei Commercial Office in Cape Town'. Furthermore, these offices began to be referred to as 'international organizations' rather than 'a foreign representation in South Africa'.

Taiwan views these actions as being influenced by political pressure from Beijing, aimed at diminishing Taiwan's international standing. Pressure from South Africa to relocate Taiwan's de facto embassy from Pretoria to Johannesburg reportedly began in 2023, following a BRICS summit attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping. This pressure intensified as South Africa prepares to host the G20 leaders' meeting in November, where President Xi is also expected to be present.

Details of the Export Restrictions

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) stated it was amending regulations for exports from free trade ports to require approval for the designated products. The list of controlled items included:

• Diode chips and wafers (excluding photosensitive diodes or light-emitting diodes)
• Transistor chips and wafers
• Mask ROM chips for hybrid integrated circuits
• Other light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
• Dynamic random-access memory integrated circuits (DRAM)

Taiwan, a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, particularly through companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), utilized its economic leverage in this diplomatic dispute. Official data from Taiwan indicated that in 2024, the country exported approximately US$4 million worth of the semiconductor-related goods included in the suspension list to South Africa.

Controls Suspended Pending Dialogue

However, on September 25, 2025, Taiwan announced the suspension of the planned export restrictions. This decision came after South Africa signaled its readiness to engage in talks regarding the status of Taiwan's representative office. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry confirmed that its envoy in South Africa received a message requesting dialogue on the future of the Taipei Liaison Office in Pretoria.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs, in consultation with the Foreign Ministry, decided to pause the implementation of the controls, which were initially set to take effect in late November. A 60-day consultation window has been established for discussions between the two sides. South Africa's foreign ministry spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, had previously highlighted South Africa's role as a critical supplier of platinum group metals, such as palladium, which are essential to the global semiconductor industry.