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Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office

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Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office
Representative Office of TaiwaninThe Hague,Netherlands.
Traditional ChineseĐài bắc kinh tế văn hóa bạn sự xử
Simplified ChineseĐài bắc kinh tế văn hóa bạn sự xử

TheTaipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office(TECRO), also known asTaipei Economic and Cultural Office(TECO),Taipei Representative Office(TRO) orTaipei Mission,is an alternativediplomatic institutionserving as ade factoembassyor aconsulateof theRepublic of China(ROC, commonly referred to as Taiwan) to exercise the foreign affairs and consular services in specific countries which have established formal diplomatic relations with thePeople's Republic of China(PRC, commonly referred to as China). The PRC denies the legitimacy of the ROC as asovereign stateand claims theROC-controlled territoriesas an integral part of its territory. Anexclusive mandate,namelyOne-China policy,requires that any country wishing to establish a diplomatic relationship with the PRC must first sever any formal relationship with the ROC. According toThe Fletcher Forum of World Affairs,"non-recognition of the Taiwanese government is a prerequisite for conducting formal diplomatic relations with the PRC—in effect forcing other governments to choose between Beijing and Taipei."[1][2]As a result, these countries only allow the ROC to establish representative offices instead of a fully-fledged embassy or consulate for the purpose of conducting practical bilateral relations without granting fulldiplomatic recognition.

Except inFiji(renamed in 2023), Papua New Guinea, Oman,Somaliland(opened in 2020), the United States, and Japan, these establishments use the capital city "Taipei"and refrain from using names of"Taiwan","ROC "or even the term" Nationalist China "(named after the ruling partyKuomintangduringCold War period) since the term "Taipei" avoids implying that Taiwan is a different country on par with the PRC or that there are "Two Chinas",the PRC and the ROC, in order to diminish the obstacles of building pragmatic diplomacy and sidestep theTaiwan issue.Lithuania broke the tradition with the nameTaiwanese Representative Office in Lithuaniain 2021. In response the PRC expelled Lithuania's embassy staff from Beijing and downgraded diplomatic relations tocharge d'affairesstatus.[3]

TECROs state that their aim is "to promote bilateral trade, investment, culture, science and technology exchanges and cooperation, as well as better understanding", and provide common citizen services towardsoverseas Taiwanese,such as issuing visas andpassports.

TECROs in theUnited Statesenjoy many diplomatic privileges such asextraterritoriality,providingconsular protectionand their staff havediplomatic immunity.[4]Other countries also establish reciprocal representative offices in Taiwan, such as theAmerican Institute in Taiwan,Canadian Trade Office in TaipeiandJapan–Taiwan Exchange Association.

History[edit]

See also:Chinese Civil War

Following the admission of the PRC to theUnited Nationsin 1971, many countries began to establish diplomatic relations with the government inBeijing,and as a consequence, ended diplomatic relations with theNanjing-based ROC Government stationed inTaipei.[5]In order to maintain trade and cultural ties with countries with which it no longer had diplomatic relations, Taiwan established representative offices in these countries, often replacing its former embassies.

Before the 1990s, the names of these offices would vary considerably from country to country, usually omitting any reference to "Taiwan" or "Republic of China", instead referring to "East Asia", "Far East" or "Free China".[6]They would also describe themselves as "centres" or "offices", concerned with trade, tourism, culture or information, thereby emphasising their private and unofficial status, despite being staffed byMinistry of Foreign Affairspersonnel.

For example, in Japan, the former ROC Embassy was replaced by the "Association of East Asian Relations"(AEAR) in 1972.[7]In Malaysia, following the closure of the Consulate General inKuala Lumpurin 1974, an office known as the Far East Travel and Trade Centre was established.[8]In thePhilippines,the former Embassy inManilawas replaced by the "Pacific Economic and Cultural Center", established in 1975.[7]InThailand,the former Embassy inBangkokwas replaced by the "Office of the Representative of China Airlines" in 1975.[9]This was later renamed the Far East Trade Office in 1980.[8]

In the United States, Taipei's mission, established in 1979, was known as the "Coordination Council for North American Affairs"(CCNAA).[10]As of 2019, it has been renamed "Taiwan Council for US Affairs."[11]

In the United Kingdom, Taiwan was represented by the "Free Chinese Centre", established in 1963.[12]InWest Germany,it was represented by aBüro der Fernost-Informationen( "Far East Information Office" ) established in 1972.[13]InSpain,the office, established in 1973, was known as theCentro Sun Yat-sen( "Sun Yat-sen Centre" ).[14]In theNetherlands,the office was known as the "Far East Trade Office".[14]

However, in the late 1980s, these offices began using the name "Taipei" in their titles. In May 1992, the AEAR offices in Japan became Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Offices.[15]The "Free Chinese Centre" in London was similarly renamed the "Taipei Representative Office".[16]In September 1994, theClinton Administrationannounced that the CCNAA office in Washington could similarly be called the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office.[17]

The building hosting TECO branch office inSydney,Australia

Earlier in 1989, the "Pacific Economic and Cultural Center" inManilabecame the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines".[18]In 1991, the "Taiwan Marketing Service" office inCanberra,Australia, established in 1988, also became a "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office", along with the "Far East Trading Company" offices in Sydney andMelbourne.[19]

Other names are still used elsewhere; for example, the mission in Moscow is formally known as the "Representative Office in Moscow for the Taipei-Moscow Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission",[20]the mission in New Delhi is known as the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Center".[21]The mission inPretoriais known as the "Taipei Liaison Office".[22]

The two most recent ones to change their official names, in Papua New Guinea and in Jordan, both use the nameTaipei Economic and Cultural Office(Chinese:Đài bắc kinh tế văn hóa bạn sự xử).

TECRO in the United States[edit]

Main article:Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States
Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United StatesinWashington, D.C.

Originally called the Coordination Council for North American Affairs (CCNAA), the name of the CCNAA office in Washington, D.C. (the "embassy") was changed to" Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office "(TECRO) as a result of theClinton administration's Taiwan Policy Review of 1994.[17]Similarly, the names of the twelve other CCNAA offices ( "consulates") in the United States were changed to" Taipei Economic and Cultural Office "(TECO).[23]

On May 24, 2019, Taiwan informed that "the Coordination Council for North American Affairs" was renamed "the Taiwan Council for U.S. Affairs".[24]

In September 2020, theUS Ambassador to the United NationsKelly Craftmet with James K.J. Lee, director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, who was secretary-general inTaiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairsuntil July, for lunch in New York City in what was the first meeting between a top Taiwan official and a United States ambassador to the United Nations.[25]Craft said she and Lee discussed ways the US can help Taiwan become more engaged within the U.N., and she pointed to a December 2019 email alert from Taiwan thatWHOhad ignored, recognizing and warning about the danger of the person-to-person transmission of the new highly contagiousCOVID-19virus in China.[25]

TECRO in Japan[edit]

Main article:Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan
TECRO inJapan

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of China and Japan were broken off in September 1972. For practical reasons, the Association of East Asian Relations (AEAR), was established two months after the Japan-China Joint Communique was signed. EARA had offices in Taipei, Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka.[26]In 1992, Japan authorized the change in name of AEAR to TECRO.[27]

Representations in the PRC special administrative regions[edit]

Hong Kong[edit]

Main article:Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, from 1966, Taiwan was represented by the 'Chung Hwa Travel Service', a name chosen to avoid upsetting Beijing.[28]On 20 July 2011, as a result of warming relations between Taiwan and Beijing, the name was formally changed to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, bringing it into line with other Republic of China representative offices around the world.[29]

Macau[edit]

Main article:Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Macau

In Macau, from 1989 to 1999, Taiwan was represented by the 'Taipei Trade and Tourism Office', Taiwan's first-time representation in Macau after Kuomintang's expulsion from Macau as the consequence of theDecember 3rd Incidentin 1966. From 1999 to 2011, Taiwan was represented by the 'Taipei Economic and Cultural Center'. On 13 May 2012, the name was formally changed to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.[30]

TRO in the United Kingdom[edit]

See also:Taipei Representative Office in the U.K.

In 1950, the UK switched recognition from the Republic of China to the People's Republic of China (PRC) shortly after its establishment, while maintaining the British Consulate inTamsui,through which the UK continued to carry out consular and trade-related activities. The consulate was closed after the UK and the PRC upgraded relations to Ambassadorial level in March 1972, and in June 1980 the building and land of the consulate were returned to the Taiwanese government. The ROC government's office in the UK was set up in September 1963, and at the time was known as the Free Chinese Centre.[12]In 1992, this was revised to become the Taipei Representative Office in the UK.[31]

Taipei Representative Office in Norway[edit]

Taipei Representative Office in Norway
Trú na uy đại biểu xử
Agency overview
Formed1980 (as Taipei Trade Centre)[14]
Dissolved30 September 2017
HeadquartersOslo,Norway

TheTaipei Representative Office in Norway;(Chinese:Trú na uy đại biểu xử;pinyin:Zhù Nuówēi Dàibiǎo Chù) was a diplomatic mission ofTaiwantoNorwaythat functioned as ade factoembassy.The first representative office of Taiwan in Norway was theTaipei Trade Centre,established in 1980.[32]

In July 2017, theROC Ministry of Foreign Affairsannounced that the office will be suspended on 30 September 2017 and affairs related to Taiwanese in the country will be handled byTaipei Mission in Sweden.The decision was made to improve the efficiency of theforeign diplomatic missionsof Taiwan.[33]

Taipei representative offices around the world[edit]

The list below shows the countries or regions where TECROs/TROs are established.

G20 nations[edit]

Country or Region Office Name Representative Website
Argentina Oficina Comercial y Cultural de Taipei en Argentina Miguel Tsao [1]
Australia Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia Elliott Charng [2]
Brazil Escritório Econômico e Cultural de Taipei no Brasil Chang Tsung-che [3]
Canada Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada Winston Chen [4]
France Bureau de Représentation de Taipei en France Wu Chih-chung[34] [5]
Germany Taipeh Vertretung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland Shieh Jhy-wey [6]
Indonesia Kantor Dagang dan Ekonomi Taipei John C. Chen [7]
India Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India Tien Chung-kwang [8]
Italy Ufficio di Rappresentanza di Taipei in Italia Lee Sing-ying [9]
Japan Đài bắc trú nhật kinh tế văn hóa đại biểu 処(Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan) Frank Hsieh [10]
Mexico Oficina Económica y Cultural de Taipei en México Carlos Liao [11]
Russia Представительство в Москве Тайбэйско-Московской координационной комиссии по экономическому и культурному сотрудничеству(Representative Office in Moscow for the Taipei-Moscow Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission) Chen Chun-shen [12]
Saudi Arabia مكتب الممثل الإقتصادي والثقافي لتايبيه في المملكة العربية السعودية(Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Saudi Arabia) Lin Jinn-jong [13]
South Africa Taipei Liaison Office in the Republic of South Africa Oliver Liao [14]
South Korea 주한국 타이페이 대표부(Taipei Mission in Korea) Daniel Diann-wen Tang [15]
Turkey Taipei Economic and Cultural Mission in Ankara James Chen [16]
United Kingdom Taipei Representative Office in the U.K. Vincent Yao [17]
United States Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States Alexander Yui [18]

Other countries[edit]

Country or Region Office Name Representative Website
Austria Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Austria Katharine Chang [19]
Bahrain Taipei Trade Office in the Kingdom of Bahrain Michael Chen [20]
Belgium Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium Tung Kuo-yu [21]
Brunei Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Brunei Darussalam Vanessa Shih [22]
Chile Oficina Económica y Cultural de Taipei en Chile Silvia Liu [23]
Colombia Oficina Comercial de Taipei en Bogotá, Colombia Francisca Y.T.Chang [24]
Czech Republic Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Prague, Czech Republic Ke Liang-ruey [25]
Denmark Taipei Representative Office in Denmark Lee Shying-jow [26]
Ecuador Oficina Comercial de Taipei Rolando Chuang [27]
Fiji Taipei Trade office in Fiji Paul Chen [28]
Finland Taipei Representative Office in Finland Janet Chang [29]
Greece Taipei Representative Office in Greece Sherman S. Kuo [30]
Guam Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam Paul Yin-Lien Chen [31]
Hong Kong Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong James Chu[35] [32]
Hungary Taipei Representative Office in Budapest Liu Shih-chung [33]
Ireland Taipei Representative Office in Ireland Yang Tzu-pao [34]
Israel Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Tel Aviv Abby Ya-ping Lee[36] [35]
Ivory Coast Taipei Representative Office in Ivory Coast [36]
Jordan Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Jordan Ismail Mae [37]
Kuwait Taipei Commercial Representative Office in the State of Kuwait Liu Kuo-hsing [38]
Latvia Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia Andy Chin [39]
Lithuania Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania Constance H. Wang [40]
Macau Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Macau Lu Chang-shui[37] [41]
Malaysia Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia Lo Yu-chung [42]
Mongolia Taipei Trade and Economic Representative Office in Ulaanbaatar Yang Syin-yi [43]
Myanmar Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Myanmar Zhang Jun[38] [44]
Netherlands Taipei Representative Office in the Netherlands James Lee [45]
New Zealand Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New Zealand Charng Yii-Lih [46]
Nigeria Taipei Trade Office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Morgan Chao [47]
Oman Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Muscat, Oman Liao Kang-min [48]
Papua New Guinea Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Papua New Guinea Ben Wang [49]
Peru Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Peru Francisca Yu-Tsz Chang [50]
Philippines Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines Lin Song-huann [51]
Poland Taipei Representative Office in Poland Chen Ming-cheng[39] [52]
Portugal Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Portugal Her Jian-gueng [53]
Singapore Taipei Representative Office in Singapore Tung Chen-yuan [54]
Slovakia Taipei Representative Office, Bratislava David Nan-yang Lee [55]
Somaliland Taiwan Representative Office in the Republic of Somaliland Allen C. Lou [56]
SpainEquatorial Guinea Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Spain José María Liu [57]
Sweden Taipei Mission in Sweden Daniel Liao [58]
Switzerland Taipei Cultural and Economic Delegation in Switzerland Liu Bang-zyh [59]
Thailand Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand Tung Chen-yuan [60]
United Arab Emirates The Commercial Office of Taipei, Dubai, U.A.E. Samee Chang [61]
Vietnam Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam Richard R. C. Shih [62]

Former representative offices[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Erikson, Daniel P.; Chen, Janice (2007). "China, Taiwan, and the Battle for Latin America".The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs.31(2): 71.
  2. ^"The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue".China Internet Information Center.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-02-27.Retrieved2014-04-09.
  3. ^"China downgrades Lithuania's diplomatic status over Taiwan row".21 November 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 18 December 2022.Retrieved18 December2022.
  4. ^New US diplomatic immunity pact a breakthrough: MOFAArchived2016-10-21 at theWayback Machine,The China Post,February 6, 2013
  5. ^The Road Less TraveledArchived2016-03-14 at theWayback Machine,Taiwan Review,September 1, 2002
  6. ^China and Europe Since 1978: A European PerspectiveArchived2017-08-22 at theWayback Machine,Richard L. Edmonds, Cambridge University Press, 2002, page 141
  7. ^abInternational Law of Recognition and the Status of the Republic of ChinaArchived2016-02-25 at theWayback Machine,Hungdah Chiu, inThe United States and the Republic of China: Democratic Friends, Strategic Allies, and Economic Partners,Steven W. Mosher Transaction Publishers, 1992, page 24
  8. ^abForeign Policy of the New Taiwan: Pragmatic Diplomacy in Southeast AsiaArchived2016-03-13 at theWayback Machine,Jie Chen, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2002, page 82
  9. ^The Changing Political Economy of Taiwan's and China's Relations with Southeast Asia: A Comparative PerspectiveArchived2016-03-13 at theWayback Machine,Samuel C Y Ku inChina and Southeast Asia: Global Changes and Regional Challenge,Ho Khai Leong, Samuel C Y Ku, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2005, page 259
  10. ^Memorandum of Understanding between the American Institute in Taiwan and the Coordination Council for North American Affairs on the Exchange of Information Concerning Commodity Futures and Options MattersArchived2016-12-21 at theWayback Machine,Signed at Arlington, Virginia this 11th day of January 1993
  11. ^"Taiwan changes name of office in the U.S. To... | Taiwan News".25 May 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-05-27.Retrieved2019-05-27.
  12. ^abThe Cold War's Odd Couple: The Unintended Partnership Between the Republic of China and the UK, 1950–1958Archived2016-02-24 at theWayback Machine,Steven Tsang, I.B.Tauris, 2006, page 39
  13. ^Die Beziehungen zwischen Taiwan und Deutschland[permanent dead link],Taipeh Vertretung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
  14. ^abcPretence of Privatisation: Taiwan's External RelationsArchived2016-03-14 at theWayback Machine,Françoise Mengin, inPrivatising the State,Béatrice Hibou,C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2004, pages 154
  15. ^Republic of China YearbookArchived2016-02-24 at theWayback MachineKwang Hwa Publishing Company, 1998, 145
  16. ^Former diplomats to Great Britain remember ThatcherArchived2016-02-03 at theWayback Machine,The China Post,10 April 2013
  17. ^abTaiwan's Relations with Mainland China: A Tail Wagging Two DogsArchived2016-02-08 at theWayback Machine,Chi Su Routledge, 2008, page 31
  18. ^Ensuring Interests: Dynamics of China-Taiwan Relations and Southeast AsiaArchived2017-02-02 at theWayback Machine,Khai Leong Ho, Guozhong He, Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya, 2006, page 25
  19. ^Australia and China: Partners in AsiaArchived2016-03-09 at theWayback Machine,Colin Mackerras, Macmillan Education, 1996, page 33
  20. ^Ngoại giao bộ (9 January 2015)."Trung hoa dân quốc ( đài loan ) ngoại giao bộ toàn cầu tư tấn võng".Trung hoa dân quốc ngoại giao bộ - toàn cầu tư tấn võng Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan).Archivedfrom the original on 14 November 2017.Retrieved1 April2018.
  21. ^MoU between India-Taipei Association (ITA) in Taipei and Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in India on cooperation in the field of Micro, Small and Medium EnterprisesArchived2016-02-05 at theWayback Machine,Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Cabinet, 14 October 2015
  22. ^Team, Internet."Thủ hiệt - trú nam phi cộng hòa quốc đài bắc liên lạc đại biểu xử Taipei Liaison Office in the RSA".www.roc-taiwan.org.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-03-10.Retrieved2016-03-13.
  23. ^"1994 Taiwan Policy ReviewArchived2007-04-04 at theWayback Machine."Formosan Association for Public Affairs.Retrieved on January 28, 2009.
  24. ^"Taiwan changing name of de-facto embassy in US".The Washington Post.[dead link]
  25. ^ab"US envoy to United Nations meets with Taiwan official in NY".ABC News.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-02-06.Retrieved2021-06-23.
  26. ^The International Law of Recognition and the Status of the Republic of ChinaArchived2016-03-09 at theWayback Machine,Hungdah Chiu inThe United States and the Republic of China: Democratic Friends, Strategic Allies, and Economic Partners,Steven W. Mosher, Transaction Publishers, 1992, page 24
  27. ^Republic of China Yearbook.Kwang Hwa Publishing Company. 1998. p. 145.ISBN9789570211795.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-03-09.Retrieved2016-02-23.
  28. ^Is name change a game changer?Archived2016-03-03 at theWayback Machine,Taipei Times,17 July 2011
  29. ^Taiwan changes name of HK officeArchived2012-10-02 at theWayback Machine,RTHK News, 15 July 2011
  30. ^Macau representative office in Taiwan opensArchived2015-04-05 at theWayback MachineThe China Post,May 14, 2012
  31. ^Former diplomats to Great Britain remember ThatcherArchived2016-02-03 at theWayback Machine,China Post,10 April 2013
  32. ^A Pretence of Privatisation: Taiwan's External RelationsArchived2016-03-14 at theWayback Machine,Françoise Mengin, inPrivatising the State,Béatrice Hibou, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2004, pages 154
  33. ^Hou, Elaine (27 July 2017)."Taiwan suspending operations at 3 overseas offices".Focus Taiwan.Archivedfrom the original on 27 July 2017.Retrieved28 July2017.
  34. ^Team, Internet."Le Représentant de Taïwan en France".Bureau de Représentation de Taipei en France trú pháp quốc đài bắc đại biểu xử.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-10-18.Retrieved2016-10-18.
  35. ^"Activity Highlights".Eccpc.org.hk.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-10-23.Retrieved2014-06-09.
  36. ^"Taiwan's new representative to Israel to assume duties this week | Politics | FOCUS TAIWAN - CNA ENGLISH NEWS".Focustaiwan.tw. 9 February 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 2014-04-04.Retrieved2014-06-09.
  37. ^"Taiwan's man in Macau has creative approach".Macau Business Daily. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-10-19.Retrieved2014-06-09.
  38. ^"Trú miến điện đại biểu phóng vấn miến bắc kiều xã cập kiều giáo".Trú miến điện đài bắc kinh tế văn hóa bạn sự xử (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Myanmar).Archivedfrom the original on 2018-12-26.Retrieved2018-12-26.
  39. ^Two diplomats sworn in before departing for Poland, IndiaArchived2015-07-10 at theWayback Machine,Focus Taiwan,July 8, 2015

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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