Taiwan is using culture and fishing history to build ties in South Africa, a small but positive win for Taipei at a time when Pretoria is squeezing its official presence.

• DPP lawmaker Wu Pei-yi took two South African politicians to a Mazu temple in Cape Town for incense offerings during Ghost Month.
• The temple was built in 2001 by Taiwanese migrants and fishermen, with its Mazu deity brought from Beigang in Yunlin.
• Taiwan's deep-sea fishing fleet has long used Cape Town's port, spawning supply, shipping and seafood processing businesses and a local Taiwanese community.
• The guests belong to the Democratic Alliance, which has publicly defended Taiwan as South Africa's government pushes Taipei's office to move and change its name.
• Wu was in Cape Town for a German-funded political leadership training program bringing together politicians from several countries.

Outlook: Expect Taiwan to keep leaning on informal cultural and business links to hold ground in South Africa as official pressure on its representative office continues.