This Day in History: December 4, 1996
Additional Date: December 4, 1996
Taiwanese Foreign Minister John Chang Hsiao Yen President met with President Nelson Mandela. While South Africa had maintained a friendly official relationship with Taiwan post-1994 and was duly rewarded with economic aid this changed in 1996. South Africa decided to move closer China as a partner in politics and economics. While Mandela tried to placate Hsia Yen with assurances that a high level relationship would still be maintained but not a diplomatic one the Taiwanese government was not impressed and cancelled thirty-six bilateral agreements, including a commitment to invest $5 billion in a South African petrochemical plant.