SA severed official diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1997 and only maintains formal, and very close, relations with China, which views the democratically governed island as Chinese territory with no right to the trappings of a state.

In a statement late on Sunday, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said SA's government had sent a letter in late January demanding the de facto Taiwanese embassy leave Pretoria before the end of March and "even be renamed as a trade office".

The demand "shows China's suppression against us in South Africa is becoming more serious", it added, saying, however, that negotiations between Taiwan and SA were ongoing.

The de facto SA embassy in Taipei did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and neither did China's Foreign Ministry.

SA had previously made a request last year for what is called the Taipei Liaison Office to leave Pretoria.

China is SA's largest trading partner globally and one with which it is looking to expand cooperation in areas such as renewable energy.

--Reuters--