Taipei, May 17 -- China is behind South Africa's latest move to downgrade the status of Taiwan's representative office in Pretoria, Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung said.

Making the statement on Friday, he pointed to the growing pressure from Beijing as a key influence in the decision, Taipei Times reported.

Lin accused South Africa of resorting to "little tricks" under Chinese pressure since last year, alleging that Pretoria has been systematically trying to alter the standing of Taiwan's office. The latest unilateral changes are part of a broader pattern, Lin said, aimed at diminishing Taiwan's international presence without direct diplomatic dialogue.

"Taiwan would not acknowledge the latest move by the South Afri...