VISITING China for the very first time this week, DA leader John Steenhuisen was “blown away” by the extraordinary infrastructural and technological development of the world’s second biggest economy.
In a reflective media briefing at the end of his state visit to China, which Steenhuisen was a part of, President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “In the past they may well have had their own illusions about China. And when they got here they saw for themselves. Their minds were blown. They said ‘we didn’t know this country is as capable as this’. For them the penny dropped, as they say.”
In the immediate aftermath of trip to China, Steenhuisen must be caught between a rock and a hard place. He leads a party that, until recently at least, held the People’s Republic of China in scant regard.
Now, an agriculture minister in President Ramaphosa-led Government of National Unity (GNU), the ideological conundrum for Steenhuisen must be growing from a simple headache to a menacing migraine.
China has been South Africa’s biggest trading partner for the past consecutive 14 years.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) is one of the world’s staunchest allies of the ANC as well as its key alliance partner, the SA Communist Party.
The ANC’s policy and party position is the unwavering recognition of One China Policy, including Taiwan as an integral part of China.
However, the DA’s policy position has been at odds with the ANC’s, believing in the independence of Taiwan and often lambasting China for a litany of reasons including human rights.
This week Steenhuisen stood out as part of President Ramaphosa’s official delegation during the state to the socialist state that the DA has abhorred for the longest time.
In a public parade, the DA leader could be seen enthusiastically shaking the hand of President Xi Jinping, a sight unimaginable a few months ago prior to the advent of the GNU, ushered following the May elections that no party won outright.
During the media briefing in Beijing where President Ramaphosa was giving his final verdict on his state visit and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), that he had attended with Steenhuisen and several dyed-in-the-wool ANC ministers and the SACP bigwig Dr Blade Nzimande, it became clear that the DA leader is a changed man.
As President Ramaphosa described the unquestionable “unity” of his ministerial delegation to China, a picture began to emerge of Steenhuisen resembling the Biblical transformation of Saul to Paul on the road to Damascus.
President Ramaphosa told a packed media briefing: “We’ve just concluded the most successful visit to China, which had two parts: The first was the state visit where we were hosted by President Xi Jinping. The second was attending the FOCAC summit.”
He elaborated: “Of course we had a number of objectives that we wanted to achieve in terms of the outcomes. For us the first one is to enhance the relationship between China and South Africa, particularly in relation to the strategic partnership that we have. We were able together to upgrade our relationship from being what we call a comprehensive strategic partnership to an all-round cooperative strategic partnership in the new era.”
President Ramaphosa added: “And the new era meaning the new period that we’re all operating in – of global situation. And indeed of the developments that we want to foster for two countries. We were also able to share perspectives with President Xi Jinping of the 7th administration that we were just been elected into.”
“I briefed him on the setting up of the Government of National Unity and how it is structured. And also in the course of our discussions relay concerns that they might have had about South Africa’s foreign policy towards China,” he said..
Additionally, the President said, “we assured him that South Africa will continue to adhere to the policy that they’ve had for over 30 years of recognizing One China Policy. We assured him that the coming in of the other nine parties in the GNU will not dilute or erase our policy position.”
Referring to Steenhuisen only by implication, and not mentioning him by name, he said: “And in fact last night i had the opportunity to inform him (President Xi) that even one of the leaders of the parties that have now joined in the GNU who initially was not so well disposed to the One China Policy – having visited China for the very first time – for the very first time as one of my ministers, - publicly said that he now subscribes and embraces One China Policy. President Xi Jinping was rather pleased with that,” a visibly elated President Ramaphosa told the media conference.
The DA is yet to publicly explain if the party policy has shifted away from Taiwan. Given the party’s apparent commitment to the GNU, it means Taiwan, which is recognized by the bulk majority of the international community and the UN as an integral part of China, has lost yet another of very few friends.
* Abbey Makoe is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief: Global South Media Network