The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See () is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of China (also known as Taiwan) accredited to the Holy See, one of its few de jure embassies in the world, and the only one remaining in Europe.Taiwan's European ally, the Vatican, says remains loyal, Taipei Times, 12 September 2015 It also has responsibility for relations with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.Europe Area, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC
Its counterpart in the Republic of China is the Apostolic Nunciature to China in Taipei.Apostolic Nunciature , Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
It is separate from the Taipei Representative Office in Italy in Rome, which functions as a de facto embassy in Italy.Ufficio di Rappresentanza di Taipei in Italia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
History Following the British Empire's defeat of China in the First Opium War (1839–1841), foreign powers required China to permit foreign missionaries. The unequal treaties gave European powers jurisdiction over missions and some authority over Chinese Christians. France sought to frame itself as the protector of Catholics in China, which in turn led to a sustained diplomatic dispute with the Holy See about who had authority over Chinese Catholics.
In 1917, the ROC and the Holy See agreed in principle to establish a diplomatic relationship. France, which had framed itself as the protector of Catholics in China since the unequal treaties and had a long-standing dispute with the Holy See as a result, blocked these diplomatic efforts. As a result, Vatican interests in China were represented by an Apostolic Delegate (which does not have formal diplomatic status) until the 1940s.
The Republic of China established relations with the Holy See in July 1942. After Xie Shoukang arrived in Rome on 26 January 1943, the legation was based in the Vatican City.Yan Kejia, Catholic Church in China (China Intercontinental Press; translated by Chen Shujie), p. 90 After the Second World War, the legation was moved to Rome.
In 1951, the People's Republic of China expelled the Apostolic Internuncio. In 1953, the Apostolic Internuncio moved to Taipei.
In June 1959, the Republic of China Legation was upgraded to an Embassy, and the Minister Plenipotentiary became Ambassador.Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See - Organizations In August, ROC ambassador John Ching Hsiung Wu resigned as the ROC Ambassador to the Holy See. By that time, the ROC Foreign Ministry had already re-located to Taipei due to Nationalist losses in the Chinese Civil War. Wu requested that the ROC delay naming his replacement because of what he described as the delicate situation.
When the United Nations removed the ROC and recognized the PRC as China, the Holy See downgraded its diplomatic status with the ROC. As the ROC has continued to lose diplomatic recognition over time since then, its embassy to the Holy See has increased in political significance from the ROC's perspective. It is the ROC's only embassy in Europe.
In March 2005, the embassy was moved to Via della Conciliazione 4/D.Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
List of Envoys to the Holy See
NameAppointed TerminatedNoteHSIEH Shou-KangJanuary 1943September 1946Wu Ching-hsiungSeptember 1946July 1949CHU YingJuly 1949October 1954as an agencyHSIEH Shou-KangOctober 1954June 1959then became an ambassador
List of Ambassadors to the Holy See NameAppointedTerminatednoteHSIEH Shou-KangJune 1959September 1966Shen Chang-huanSeptember 1966March 1969Chen Chih-MaiMarch 1969January 1978Chow Shu-KaiJanuary 1978August 1991HOANG Sieou-JeAugust 1991May 1993Edward Tzu-Yu WUMay 1993August 1996Raymond R.M. TAISeptember 1996January 2004Address of His Holiness John Paul II to H.E. Mr Raymond R.M. Tai, new Ambassador of the Republic of China to the Holy See, 4 October 1996Chou-seng TOUJanuary 200415 September 2008Ex-envoy publishes book on Vatican ties, Taipei Times, 17 January 2013Larry WangSeptember 2008Holy See's secretary of state attends 10/10 Day reception, China Post, 11 October 2015December 2015Matthew S.M. LEEDecember 2015current
See also Holy See–Taiwan relations List of diplomatic missions of the Republic of China
References