Taiwan is suspending air service with South Africa after the latter announced it was switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The move will have little effect on Taiwan's airlines but raises questions about the basis of Taipei's aeropolitical policy.
China Airlines has operated twice-weekly flights to Johannesburg since 1991, but low load factors saw the route's closure last October. Subsequently, CAL says it talked to South African Airways about codesharing before Pretoria switched diplomatic recognition. No other Taiwanese airline serves South Africa.
Taipei's foreign affairs ministry says it will suspend the Taiwan-South Africa bilateral on 15 February. The accord requires a year's notice before cancellation, so it is unclear whether SAA flights will continue. When Taipei suspended its agreement with South Korea for the same reason in 1992, all flights by carriers from both countries ceased immediately.
Ironically, the South African dispute coincides with Taiwan's attempts to revive its bilateral with South Korea, while concluding an inaugural deal with Russia. Moscow-Taipei flights could start in April. Since Seoul and Moscow both formally recognise Beijing rather than Taipei, the contrast with South Africa raises questions about Taiwan's policy.
Nicholas Chen, a Taipei-based US lawyer, describes the suspension as probably 'the result of an outburst rather than consistent thought-out policy.' Taipei hopes to negotiate a new status with Pretoria that would revive the bilateral. Its decision to suspend first appears less a negotiating strategy and more a matter of saving face.
Source: Airline Business
