Presidency to clarify foreign trade policy in wake of Taipei furore

Government has vowed to
clarify its foreign policy stance
in the wake of the furore
that erupted over Tshwane
mayor Solly Msimanga’s trip
to Taiwan late last month
– which was branded as
“treason” by the Department
of International Relations and
Cooperation (Dirco).
The Presidential
Coordinating Council
(PCC) – chaired by President
Jacob Zuma and bringing
together the leadership of
national, provincial and local
government – is set to meet in
the first quarter of this year to
clarify issues around foreign
policy.
“The Council meets
quarterly and has not met
since the local government
elections. It will, at the right
time, discuss matters relating
to foreign policy coordination
as part of its agenda in order
to ensure synergy within
the three spheres,” said
Dr Bongani Ngqulunga,
deputy director general and
acting spokesperson for the
Presidency.
Director at the Centre
for Constitutional Rights,
Phephelaphi Dube, agreed
that the visit – which
Msimanga undertook at the
personal request of the mayor
of Taipei, Ko Wen-Je – raised
“quite interesting questions
on intergovernmental
relations and cooperative
governance” because the
Constitution made it
clear that different tiers of
government could make their
own policies in pursuing
their own development
strategy”. According to
Dube, the Constitution does
allow “a certain measure of
independence” to different
tiers of government.
Msimanga said on his
official Twitter account
that “party politics must
be transcended by the
paramount need to create
opportunities”, stressing that
all potential opportunities for
trade and investment must be
“diligently interrogated if we
are to fully harness bilateral
relationships”.
Democratic Alliance (DA)
Shadow Minister of Trade and
Industry, Dean Macpherson,
said last week that he had
written to the Minister of
Trade and Industry, Rob
Davies, asking him to
recommit to continuing to
build trade and investment
relations with Taiwan and
dismiss the ANC and Dirco’s
“reckless and hypocritical
statements” about Msimanga’s
recent trip.
“The DA believes the
Minister was right to endorse
this mission because Taiwan is
South Africa’s second largest
Asian investor with R14
billion worth of investments.
Trade between the two
countries totals
R22 billion, with a trade
balance of nearly R4 billion
in South Africa’s favour –
according to 2013 statistics,”
Macpherson pointed out.
Wen-Je posted a photo
of himself with Msimanga
on Twitter last week, amid
the controversy, noting:
“Honoured to receive @
SollyMsimanga, mayor of
@CityTshwane, who’s also
willing to transcend politics
and strive for improving
citizens’ lives.”
CAPTION
Solly Msimanga received the keys to the city from Taipei
mayor, Ko Wen-Je, during his recent visit.