DPP Lawmaker Wu Pei-yi Visits South Africa, Introducing Mazu Culture to Local Politicians

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wu Pei-yi recently accepted an invitation to visit South Africa for parliamentary diplomacy. On the 24th local time, she arranged a special itinerary, accompanied by members of parliament from South Africa's largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), to visit the Chaotian Temple in Cape Town to pay respects to Mazu. This religious and cultural exchange spanning half the globe not only brought traditional Taiwanese beliefs in faraway Africa to the attention of local politics once again, but also paved a new, more personable and culturally rich path for parliamentary diplomacy between Taiwan and South Africa. Following the visit, Wu stated that it was the first time in their lives that the two accompanying South African DA MPs had stepped into a traditional Taiwanese temple. Through firsthand visits, offering incense, and touring the facility, they were able to understand a different facet of Taiwan in the most intuitive way and see how Taiwan's unique folk belief culture crosses the ocean to take root in South Africa.

During this incense-offering itinerary, the Cape Town Chaotian Temple played a crucial role as an overseas cultural outpost. Taiwanese folk beliefs, such as the worship of Mazu, have spread worldwide over the past few decades following the footsteps of Taiwanese immigrants, business people, and deep-sea fishing industry workers. As an important port city and economic hub in South Africa, Cape Town has long attracted many Taiwanese people to work and live locally. The existence of the Mazu temple is not only an important spiritual sustenance for overseas Taiwanese expatriates, but also the core that unites compatriots. For local political figures, visiting such religious sites often provides the most direct experience of the cohesion and cultural vitality of the Taiwanese community. Wu specifically introduced to the South African MPs that Mazu is an important deity in Taiwan protecting fishermen and seafarers, noting that this profound maritime cultural background can serve as the most resonant foundation for dialogue between Taiwan and South Africa, which also possesses a long coastline and values the marine economy.

Through this visit, Wu skillfully transformed serious parliamentary diplomacy into a soft cultural experience. As a major political force in the Republic of South Africa, the DA exercises oversight over the ruling party in parliament and actively promotes democratic reform and the development of a diverse society. The DA MPs showed a high degree of curiosity and respect for the multiculturalism originating from Taiwan. During the incense-offering process, the MPs not only listened attentively to the historical origins of Mazu worship and the decorative art of Taiwanese temple architecture, but were also deeply impressed by the inclusive universal values of seeking peace and harmony found in Taiwanese folk beliefs. Such unofficial grassroots exchanges can often transcend party politics and geopolitical barriers, allowing core figures in South African politics to rediscover, from cultural and lifestyle dimensions, Taiwan as a democratic partner actively seeking connections in the international community.

From a broader diplomatic strategic perspective, Taiwan's parliamentary diplomacy has long transcended traditional bilateral talks or the signing of official documents in recent years, moving instead toward a comprehensive alliance of civil society, culture, and values. As an island nation, Taiwan's marine culture, fisheries cooperation, and religious freedom are the best calling cards to showcase its soft power to the world. Wu's visit to South Africa and her tour of the local faith center are precisely the practice of this all-encompassing diplomatic mindset. By allowing South African MPs to see how Taiwanese culture takes root overseas, it not only deepens mutual understanding between Taiwanese and African grassroots communities, but also lays a more solid foundation of trust and grassroots support for future substantive cooperation between the two countries across various fields.

This transoceanic Mazu pilgrimage has planted friendly seeds for understanding Taiwan in the hearts of the South African DA MPs. Local Taiwanese immigrants and expatriates once again felt the care and connection from their homeland through such diplomatic activities. Sustained through overseas temples, traditional Taiwanese beliefs not only soothe the homesickness of travelers abroad, but also invisibly become an important bridge for Taiwan to reach out to the world and engage in cultural dialogue with the international community. In the future, with the continued advancement of more similar parliamentary and cultural exchanges, Taiwan and various sectors in South Africa are expected to develop more diverse and profound interactions under the shared values of democracy, freedom, and multiculturalism.