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This week South Africans will find out whether our foreign policy is based on “ubuntu” or the Chinese Communist Party’s “One China” policy. If it based on our home-grown ethic of ubuntu, or humanity, then we will surely grant the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, a visa to visit South Africa and enjoy Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s birthday with him. If it is “Made in China”, then we will deny the Dalai Lama a visa – likely on spurious technical grounds – so as not to offend our biggest trade partner which demands that every country desist from recognizing him as a leader who promotes the aspirations of the Tibetan people. The DA believes that our own history and values should guide us on this matter, not those of China, otherwise we risk relinquishing our sovereignty in matters of international policy to a foreign power. This is unacceptable.

Yesterday, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe left for China on a three day trip to strengthen economic ties with the country. The DA welcomes any chance for deepening and expanding trade with the Asian giant. But because China is a not a democracy with a Constitution that governs through the rule of law, we should not allow it to have an undue influence on matters that go to the heart of our political independence – that of our foreign policy. We have our own values to maintain and promote through international engagement.

The DA calls on the South African government to show its political strength and maturity by granting the Dalai Lama a visa, even if the Chinese are pressuring us. As a BRICS partner with the Chinese, we must view our relationship with them as equals, not subordinates. We call on the government to show that our foreign policy is “Made in South Africa”, not “Made in China.”