Taiwan, formally known as the Republic of China (ROC), currently has formal diplomatic relations with 11 of the 193 United Nations member states and with the Holy See, which governs the Vatican City State, as of 16 March 2024. In addition to these relations, the ROC also maintains unofficial relations with 59 UN member states, one self-declared state (Somaliland), three territories, and the European Union via its representative offices and consulates. In 2021, the Government of the Republic of China had the 33rd largest diplomatic network in the world with 110 offices.
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 to exercise the foreign affairs and consular services in specific countries which have established formal diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of 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 PRC—in effect forcing other governments to choose between Beijing and Taipei." 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.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, is a cabinet-level ministry in the government of Taiwan. It is headquartered in the capital Taipei. The incumbent minister is Joseph Wu, who took office in 2018 and is affiliated with the Democratic Progressive Party.
South Korean–Taiwan relations
Numerous states have ceased their diplomatic recognition of the Republic of China during the last 70 years, since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Under the One China policy, the ROC is recognized by 11 UN member states and Holy See with 59 UN member states and Somaliland maintaining unofficial cultural and economic relations.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Taiwan:
The Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association, formerly known as Interchange Association, is an organization that represents the interests of Japan in Taiwan. In 2017, the current name was adopted.
A de facto embassy is an office or organisation that serves de facto as an embassy in the absence of normal or official diplomatic relations among countries, usually to represent nations which lack full diplomatic recognition, regions or dependencies of countries, or territories over which sovereignty is disputed. In some cases, diplomatic immunity and extraterritoriality may be granted.
The Taipei Mission in Korea represents the interests of Taiwan in South Korea, functioning as a de facto embassy in the absence of diplomatic relations.
The Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei is the representative office of Vietnam in Taiwan, which functions as a de facto embassy in the absence of diplomatic relations. Its counterpart body in Vietnam is the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam based in Hanoi.
The Taipei Trade Office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria represents the interests of Taiwan in Nigeria in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, functioning as a de facto embassy.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India is the representative office of Taiwan in India, functioning as a de facto embassy in the absence of diplomatic relations. It was established in 1995.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; represents the interests of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Saudi Arabia in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, functioning as a de facto embassy. In addition, it has responsibility for Taiwan's relations with Afghanistan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Qatar and Sudan.
The Czech Republic and Taiwan maintain strong unofficial relations.
The Republic of Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan ; is the representative office of the Republic of Somaliland in the Republic of China, Taiwan. It is the largest diplomatic mission of Somaliland in the East Asia region and serves Somaliland’s interest in East Asia and Southeast Asia Region. The office was inaugurated on September 9, 2020 in an event held at Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (IDIA) in Taipei.
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Honduras was the embassy of the Republic of China in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The two countries had established diplomatic relations in 1941. It ended in 2023 when Honduras shifted diplomatic recognition to the People's Republic of China. Honduras was one of the 14 countries that recognise the ROC.
Zhang Youci, better known as Francisca Yu-Tsz Chang, is a diplomat of the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan. She was the first female representative of the Republic of China in Colombia from 2020 to 2021, currently serving as the representative of the Republic of China to Peru.
The Taipei Representative Office in Greece represents the interests of Taiwan in Greece in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, functioning as a de facto embassy.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Jordan represents the interests of Taiwan in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, functioning as a de facto embassy. Its counterpart is the Jordanian Commercial Office in Taipei, which was established on 25 November 1977.
