However, Beijing simply reiterated its position that it wished to establish diplomatic relations, but was opposed to South Africa's maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan. In November of last year, President Mandela stated at a press conference in Johannesburg that South Africa wished to established diplomatic relations with Beijing, but that he did not have the "moral courage" to break off relations with Taiwan.
去年十一月，曼德拉在約翰尼斯堡舉行記者會上表示，南非希望與北京建交，但「沒有道德勇氣與台灣斷交」。