The expulsion of South Africa's ambassador to the United States highlights "diplomatic bullying" by the new U.S. administration, which should be opposed by all African nations, said a South African political expert.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool "persona non grata" on the social media platform X on Friday, giving him 72 hours to leave the United States, following an earlier speech in which Rasool criticized U.S. President Donald Trump.
On Saturday, the South African president's office described the expulsion as "regrettable", calling for "diplomatic decorum" between the two nations.
Patrick Bond, a political economist and expert on international relations at the University of Johannesburg's Department of Sociology, noted that the U.S. is discontented with South Africa's opposition to Israel's genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, fueled by Ambassador Rasool's candid criticism of Trump, which led to the escalating tension between the two countries.
"The main friction between South Africa and the U.S. now goes back to early 2024, is the International Court of Justice case against Israel's genocide against Palestinians, and that would imply that the United States, the main supporter of Israel, is complicit in the genocide. So, the U.S. would like South Africa to withdraw the case. But most of the rest of the world wants South Africa to keep having leadership. U.S. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio said that ambassador from the South Africa to the U.S., Ebrahim Rasool, who is new in the job but he had served before, was not being diplomatic enough because he essentially accused Donald Trump of inspiring a worldwide movement of white racists," he said.
"That's the signal that they will be bullies, they will get away with it. They will throw out an ambassador for simply being honest. All the (African) continent should stand up against this bullying," the scholar added.
South African ambassador's ouster highlights U.S. "diplomatic bullying": expert
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
