Ancient ties bind South Africa and the Chinese world, beginning in the seventeenth century with the arrival of the first Chinese migrants. The relationship between South Africa and China has endured a number of vicissitudes: during apartheid, South Africa and Taiwan were allies, and in the 1990s, South Africa counted among the countries most actively contemptuous of China's presence in Africa. However, South Africa now stands as one of the few African countries maintaining balanced political and economic relations with the People's Republic of China, sharing many interests.