Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), also known as Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), Taipei Representative Office (TRO) or Taipei Mission, is an alternative diplomatic institution serving as a de facto embassy or a consulate of the Republic 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 the People's Republic of China (PRC, commonly referred to as China). The PRC denies the legitimacy of the ROC as a sovereign state and claims the ROC-controlled territories as an integral part of its territory. An exclusive mandate, namely One-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 to The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, "non-recognition of the Taiwanese government is a prerequisite for conducting formal diplomatic relations with the PRCTemplate:Mdashin effect forcing other governments to choose between Beijing and Taipei."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 full diplomatic recognition.

Except in Lithuania<ref>https://www.roc-taiwan.org/lt_en/index.html</ref> and Somaliland (opened in 2020), all offices use the capital city "Taipei" and refrain from using the name "Taiwan" or the "Republic of China", 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 the Taiwan issue. The first attempt of using the name "Taiwan" in a Taiwanese diplomatic mission within a non-diplomatic state was when Lithuania broke the tradition with the name Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania in 2021. In response the PRC expelled Lithuania's embassy staff from Beijing and downgraded diplomatic relations to charge d'affaires status.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Attempts by other countries, including Fiji, to allow ROC government to change the representative office to indicate "Taiwan" later failed and were reversed under pressure from PRC government. <ref>https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/06/23/2003802043</ref>

On the other side, offices located in Taiwan usually also use the term "Taipei", though the United States, Japan, and Somaliland (but not Lithuania) use "Taiwan" (for example the American Institute in Taiwan).

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 towards overseas Taiwanese, such as issuing visas and passports.

TECROs in the United States enjoy many diplomatic privileges such as extraterritoriality, providing consular protection and their staff have diplomatic immunity.<ref>New US diplomatic immunity pact a breakthrough: MOFA Template:Webarchive, The China Post, February 6, 2013</ref> Other countries also establish reciprocal representative offices in Taiwan, such as the American Institute in Taiwan, Canadian Trade Office in Taipei and Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association.

History

Template:See also Following the admission of the PRC to the United Nations in 1971, many countries began to establish diplomatic relations with the government in Beijing, and as a consequence, ended diplomatic relations with the Nanjing-based ROC Government stationed in Taipei.<ref name="Taiwan Review">The Road Less Traveled Template:Webarchive, Taiwan Review, September 1, 2002</ref> 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".<ref>China and Europe Since 1978: A European Perspective Template:Webarchive, Richard L. Edmonds, Cambridge University Press, 2002, page 141</ref> 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 by Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel.

For example, in Japan, the former ROC Embassy was replaced by the "Association of East Asian Relations" (AEAR) in 1972.<ref name="Mosher">International Law of Recognition and the Status of the Republic of China Template:Webarchive, Hungdah Chiu, in The United States and the Republic of China: Democratic Friends, Strategic Allies, and Economic Partners, Steven W. Mosher Transaction Publishers, 1992, page 24</ref> In Malaysia, following the closure of the consulate general in Kuala Lumpur in 1974, an office known as the Far East Travel and Trade Centre was established.<ref name="Jie Chen">Foreign Policy of the New Taiwan: Pragmatic Diplomacy in Southeast Asia Template:Webarchive, Jie Chen, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2002, page 82</ref> In the Philippines, the former embassy in Manila was replaced by the "Pacific Economic and Cultural Center", established in 1975.<ref name="Mosher" /> In Thailand, the former embassy in Bangkok was replaced by the "Office of the Representative of China Airlines" in 1975.<ref name="Samuel C Y Ku">The Changing Political Economy of Taiwan's and China's Relations with Southeast Asia: A Comparative Perspective Template:Webarchive, Samuel C Y Ku in China and Southeast Asia: Global Changes and Regional Challenge, Ho Khai Leong, Samuel C Y Ku, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2005, page 259</ref> This was later renamed the Far East Trade Office in 1980.<ref name="Jie Chen" />

In the United States, Taipei's mission, established in 1979, was known as the "Coordination Council for North American Affairs" (CCNAA).<ref>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 Matters Template:Webarchive, Signed at Arlington, Virginia this 11th day of January 1993</ref> As of 2019, it has been renamed "Taiwan Council for US Affairs."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, Taiwan was represented by the "Free Chinese Centre", established in 1963.<ref name="books.google.co.uk">The Cold War's Odd Couple: The Unintended Partnership Between the Republic of China and the UK, 1950–1958 Template:Webarchive, Steven Tsang, I.B.Tauris, 2006, page 39</ref> In West Germany, it was represented by a Büro der Fernost-Informationen ("Far East Information Office") established in 1972.<ref name="Vertretung">Die Beziehungen zwischen Taiwan und DeutschlandTemplate:Dead link, Taipeh Vertretung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland</ref> In Spain, the office, established in 1973, was known as the Centro Sun Yat-sen ("Sun Yat-sen Centre").<ref name="hibou">Pretence of Privatisation: Taiwan's External Relations Template:Webarchive, Françoise Mengin, in Privatising the State, Béatrice Hibou, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2004, pages 154</ref> In the Netherlands, the office was known as the "Far East Trade Office".<ref name="hibou" />

However, in the late 1980s, these offices began using the name "Taipei" in their titles due to confusion on their functions, particular those needing visa to travel to ROC areas. Using the "Taipei" is more familiar as it was recently used in the Olympics after "Chinese Taipei" Olympics team rejoined in 1981. In May 1992, the AEAR offices in Japan became Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Offices.<ref>Republic of China Yearbook Template:Webarchive Kwang Hwa Publishing Company, 1998, 145</ref> The "Free Chinese Centre" in London was similarly renamed the "Taipei Representative Office".<ref>Former diplomats to Great Britain remember Thatcher Template:Webarchive, The China Post, 10 April 2013</ref> In September 1994, the Clinton Administration announced that the CCNAA office in Washington could similarly be called the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office.<ref name="Chi Su">Taiwan's Relations with Mainland China: A Tail Wagging Two Dogs Template:Webarchive, Chi Su Routledge, 2008, page 31</ref>

File:Mlc center syd.jpg

The building hosting TECO branch office in Sydney, Australia

Earlier in 1989, the "Pacific Economic and Cultural Center" in Manila became the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines".<ref name="Enduring Dynamics">Ensuring Interests: Dynamics of China-Taiwan Relations and Southeast Asia Template:Webarchive, Khai Leong Ho, Guozhong He, Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya, 2006, page 25</ref> In 1991, the "Taiwan Marketing Service" office in Canberra, Australia, established in 1988, also became a "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office", along with the "Far East Trading Company" offices in Sydney and Melbourne.<ref>Australia and China: Partners in Asia Template:Webarchive, Colin Mackerras, Macmillan Education, 1996, page 33</ref>

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",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the mission in New Delhi is known as the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Center".<ref>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 Enterprises Template:Webarchive, Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Cabinet, 14 October 2015</ref> The mission in Pretoria is known as the "Taipei Liaison Office".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The two most recent ones to change their official names, in Papua New Guinea and in Jordan, both use the name Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Template:Zh).

TECRO in the United States

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File:Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States from VOA (1).jpg

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States in Washington, 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 the Clinton administration's Taiwan Policy Review of 1994.<ref name="Chi Su" /> Similarly, the names of the twelve other CCNAA offices ("consulates") in the United States were changed to "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office" (TECO).<ref>"1994 Taiwan Policy Review Template:Webarchive." Formosan Association for Public Affairs. Retrieved on January 28, 2009.</ref>

On May 24, 2019, Taiwan informed that "the Coordination Council for North American Affairs" was renamed "the Taiwan Council for U.S. Affairs".<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

In September 2020, the US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft met with James K.J. Lee, director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, who was secretary-general in Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs until 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.<ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 that WHO had ignored, recognizing and warning about the danger of the person-to-person transmission of the new highly contagious COVID-19 virus in China.<ref name="auto"/>

TECRO in Japan

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

File:Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan 20080811.jpg

TECRO in Japan

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.<ref>The International Law of Recognition and the Status of the Republic of China Template:Webarchive, Hungdah Chiu in The United States and the Republic of China: Democratic Friends, Strategic Allies, and Economic Partners, Steven W. Mosher, Transaction Publishers, 1992, page 24</ref> In 1992, Japan authorized the change in name of AEAR to TECRO.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Representations in the PRC special administrative regions

Hong Kong

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In Hong Kong, from 1966, Taiwan was represented by the 'Chung Hwa Travel Service', a name chosen to avoid upsetting Beijing.<ref>Is name change a game changer? Template:Webarchive, Taipei Times, 17 July 2011</ref> 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.<ref>Taiwan changes name of HK office Template:Webarchive, RTHK News, 15 July 2011</ref>

Macau

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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 the December 3rd Incident in 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.<ref>Macau representative office in Taiwan opens Template:Webarchive The China Post, May 14, 2012</ref>

TRO in the United Kingdom

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 in Tamsui, 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.<ref name="books.google.co.uk"/> In 1992, this was revised to become the Taipei Representative Office in the UK.<ref>Former diplomats to Great Britain remember Thatcher Template:Webarchive, China Post, 10 April 2013</ref>

Taipei Representative Office in Norway

Template:Infobox government agencyThe Taipei Representative Office in Norway; (Template:Zh) was a diplomatic mission of Taiwan to Norway that functioned as a de facto embassy. The first representative office of Taiwan in Norway was the Taipei Trade Centre, established in 1980.<ref name="hibou2">A Pretence of Privatisation: Taiwan's External Relations Template:Webarchive, Françoise Mengin, in Privatising the State, Béatrice Hibou, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2004, pages 154</ref>

In July 2017, the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the office will be suspended on 30 September 2017 and affairs related to Taiwanese in the country will be handled by Taipei Mission in Sweden. The decision was made to improve the efficiency of the foreign diplomatic missions of Taiwan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Taipei representative offices around the world

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

G20 nations

Country or Region	Office Name	Representative	Website
Template:ARG	Oficina Comercial y Cultural de Taipei en Argentina	Miguel Tsao	[1]
Template:AUS	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia	Elliott Charng	[2]
Template:BRA	Escritório Econômico e Cultural de Taipei no Brasil	Chang Tsung-che	[3]
Template:CAN	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada	Winston Chen	[4]
{{#invoke:flag	France}}	Bureau de Représentation de Taipei en France	Wu Chih-chung<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || [5]
{{#invoke:flag	Germany}}	Taipeh Vertretung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland	Shieh Jhy-wey	[6]
Template:IDN	Kantor Dagang dan Ekonomi Taipei	John C. Chen	[7]
{{#invoke:flag	India}}	Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India	Tien Chung-kwang	[8]
{{#invoke:flag	Italy}}	Ufficio di Rappresentanza di Taipei in Italia	Lee Sing-ying	[9]
Template:JPN	台北駐日経済文化代表処 (Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan)	Frank Hsieh	[10]
Template:MEX	Oficina Económica y Cultural de Taipei en México	Carlos Liao	[11]
{{#invoke:flag	}}	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]
Template:SAU	مكتب الممثل الإقتصادي والثقافي لتايبيه في المملكة العربية السعودية (Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Saudi Arabia)	Lin Jinn-jong	[13]
Template:ZAF	Taipei Liaison Office in the Republic of South Africa	Oliver Liao	[14]
Template:KOR	주한국 타이페이 대표부 (Taipei Mission in Korea)	Daniel Diann-wen Tang	[15]
{{#invoke:flag	Turkey}}	Taipei Economic and Cultural Mission in Ankara	James Chen	[16]
Template:GBR	Taipei Representative Office in the U.K.	Vincent Yao	[17]
Template:USA	Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States	Alexander Yui	[18]

Other countries

Country or Region	Office Name	Representative	Website
{{#invoke:flag	Austria}}	Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Austria	Katharine Chang	[19]
Template:BHR	Taipei Trade Office in the Kingdom of Bahrain	Michael Chen	[20]
{{#invoke:flag	Belgium}}	Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium	Tung Kuo-yu	[21]
Template:BRN	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Brunei Darussalam	Vanessa Shih	[22]
Template:CHL	Oficina Económica y Cultural de Taipei en Chile	Silvia Liu	[23]
Template:COL	Oficina Comercial de Taipei en Bogotá, Colombia	Francisca Y.T.Chang	[24]
{{#invoke:flag	Czech Republic}}	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Prague, Czech Republic	Ke Liang-ruey	[25]
{{#invoke:flag	Denmark}}	Taipei Representative Office in Denmark	Lee Shying-jow	[26]
Template:ECU	Oficina Comercial de Taipei	Rolando Chuang	[27]
Template:FJI	Taipei Trade office in Fiji	Paul Chen	[28]
{{#invoke:flag	Finland}}	Taipei Representative Office in Finland	Janet Chang	[29]
{{#invoke:flag	Greece}}	Taipei Representative Office in Greece	Sherman S. Kuo	[30]
Template:GUM	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam	Paul Yin-Lien Chen	[31]
Template:HKG	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong	James Chu<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || [32]
{{#invoke:flag	}}	Taipei Representative Office in Budapest	Liu Shih-chung	[33]
{{#invoke:flag	Ireland}}	Taipei Representative Office in Ireland	Yang Tzu-pao	[34]
Template:ISR	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Tel Aviv	Abby Ya-ping Lee<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || [35]
Template:CIV	Taipei Representative Office in Ivory Coast		[36]
Template:JOR	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Jordan	Ismail Mae	[37]
Template:KWT	Taipei Commercial Representative Office in the State of Kuwait	Liu Kuo-hsing	[38]
{{#invoke:flag	Latvia}}	Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia	Andy Chin	[39]
{{#invoke:flag	Lithuania}}	Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania	Constance H. Wang	[40]
Template:MAC	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Macau	Lu Chang-shui<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || [41]
Template:MYS	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia	Lo Yu-chung	[42]
Template:MGL	Taipei Trade and Economic Representative Office in Ulaanbaatar	Yang Syin-yi	[43]
Template:MMR	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Myanmar	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || [44]
{{#invoke:flag	Netherlands}}	Taipei Representative Office in the Netherlands	James Lee	[45]
Template:NZL	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New Zealand	Charng Yii-Lih	[46]
Template:NGA	Taipei Trade Office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria	Morgan Chao	[47]
Template:OMA	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Muscat, Oman	Liao Kang-min	[48]
Template:PNG	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Papua New Guinea	Ben Wang	[49]
Template:PER	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Peru	Francisca Yu-Tsz Chang	[50]
Template:PHL	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines	Lin Song-huann	[51]
{{#invoke:flag	Poland}}	Taipei Representative Office in Poland	Chen Ming-cheng<ref name="Poland India">Two diplomats sworn in before departing for Poland, India Template:Webarchive, Focus Taiwan, July 8, 2015</ref>	[52]
{{#invoke:flag	Portugal}}	Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Portugal	Her Jian-gueng	[53]
Template:SIN	Taipei Representative Office in Singapore	Tung Chen-yuan	[54]
{{#invoke:flag	Slovakia}}	Taipei Representative Office, Bratislava	David Nan-yang Lee	[55]
Template:Flag	Taiwan Representative Office in the Republic of Somaliland	Allen C. Lou	[56]
{{#invoke:flag	Spain}}	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Spain	José María Liu	[57]
{{#invoke:flag	Sweden}}	Taipei Mission in Sweden	Daniel Liao	[58]
Template:SUI	Taipei Cultural and Economic Delegation in Switzerland	Liu Bang-zyh	[59]
Template:THA	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand	Tung Chen-yuan	[60]
Template:UAE	The Commercial Office of Taipei, Dubai, U.A.E.	Samee Chang	[61]
Template:VNM	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam	Richard R. C. Shih	[62]

Former representative offices

• Template:Flag — Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Bangladesh (closed in 2009, transferred to Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India and in Thailand)
• Template:Flag — de facto embassy in Minsk (closed in 2006, transferred to Representative Office in Moscow for the Taipei-Moscow Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission)
• Template:Flag — Taipei Economic Office in La Paz (closed in 2009, transferred to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Peru)
• Template:Flag — de facto embassy in Phnom Penh (closed in 1997, transferred later to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Ho Chi Minh City)
• Template:Flag — Taiwan Commercial Office in Tripoli (closed in 2011, transferred to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Jordan)
• Template:Flag — Taipei Representative Office in Norway (closed in 2017, transferred to Taipei Mission in Sweden)
• Template:Flag — Taipei Economic Office in Montevideo (closed in 2002 temporary, transferred to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Argentina)
• Template:Flag — Taipei Economic Office in Caracas (closed in 2009, transferred to Taipei Commercial Office in Bogotá, Colombia)

See also

• Political status of Taiwan
• Chinese Taipei
• Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office
• Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada
• List of diplomatic missions of Taiwan
• Timeline of diplomatic relations of the Republic of China

Further reading

• Template:Cite journal

External links

• Overseas Office Republic of China (Taiwan)
• Bureau of Consular Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) Template:Webarchive
• Chinese International Economic Association Cooperation