CHINA yesterday welcomed South Africa's decision to switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing - a move that analysts say could sound the death knell for Taipei's diplomatic aspirations.
In a surprisingly muted response to what amounts to a major diplomatic victory for Beijing over its nationalist rival, a foreign ministry spokesman, Mr Cui Tiankai, praised President Nelson Mandela's "positive attitude".
"China and South Africa are major countries in Asia and Africa ... and this will open a bright future for friendly co operation in all areas," Mr Cui said.
Mr Mandela announced on Wednesday that South Africa would sever official ties with Taiwan and establish diplomatic relations with Beijing as of December 1st next year.
South Africa was the last major industrialised country to recognise Taiwan, and its defection under lines the basic futility of Taipei's diplomatic efforts in the face of China's political and economic clout.
"It is, of course, a major blow to Taiwan, perhaps even the knockout blow as far as the diplomatic arena is concerned," said one western diplomat specialising in Sino-African relations.
According to African diplomats in Beijing, South Africa's move could tip the balance in Beijing's favour among the eight other African states that currently side with Taiwan.
"China is a future superpower and one day, Taiwan probably reunify with the mainland," a southern African diplomat said. "Mandela's decision is simply a recognition of that reality, as it must be for others."
It is also a vindication of Beijing's hardline stance on the question of dual recognition.
During his visit to China in March, South Africa's Foreign Minister, Mr Alfred Nzo, had made strenuous efforts to work out some formula that would allow Pretoria to retain official ties with Faipei.