Mr. Mandela explained his government's position by saying that South Africa is now an important participant in the Organization of African Unity, the non-aligned movement and the United Nations, and that as such, "a permanent continuation of diplomatic recognition of the Republic of China on Taiwan is inconsistent with South Africa's role in international affairs."
曼德拉解釋其政府立場說，南非現在是非洲國家聯盟、不結盟運動和聯合國的重要參與者，如果「長久持續對中華民國的外交承認，不符合南非在國際事務上扮演的角色」。