Embassy of Taiwan, Holy See explained

Agency Name:Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See
中華民國駐教廷大使館
Nativename:Legatio Rei Publicae Sinarum (Taiwan) ad Sanctam Sedem
Formed:1942 (in the Vatican City)
1996 (in Rome)
Jurisdiction:
Headquarters:Rome, Italy
Coordinates:41.9026°N 12.4634°W
Chief1 Name:Matthew S.M. Lee
Chief1 Position:Ambassador[1]
Website:Embassy of the Republic of China (TAIWAN) to the Holy See

The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of China (as 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.[2] It also has responsibility for relations with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.[3]

Its counterpart in the Republic of China is the Apostolic Nunciature to China in Taipei.[4]

It is separate from the Taipei Representative Office in Italy in Rome, which functions as a de facto embassy in Italy.[5]

History

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.[6] After the Second World War, the legation was moved to Rome. In June 1959, the Republic of China Legation was upgraded to an Embassy, and the Minister Plenipotentiary became Ambassador.[7]

In March 2005, the embassy was moved to Via della Conciliazione 4/D.[8]

List of Envoys to the Holy See

See main article: List of ambassadors of China to the Holy See.

width=10% Namewidth=12% Appointed width=12% Terminatedwidth=12% Note
HSIEH Shou-KangJanuary 1943September 1946
Wu Ching-hsiungSeptember 1946July 1949
CHU YingJuly 1949October 1954as an agency
HSIEH Shou-KangOctober 1954June 1959then became an ambassador

List of Ambassadors to the Holy See

width=10% Namewidth=12% Appointedwidth=12% Terminatedwidth=12% note
HSIEH Shou-KangJune 1959September 1966
Shen Chang-huanSeptember 1966March 1969
Chen Chih-MaiMarch 1969January 1978
CHOW Shu-KaiJanuary 1978August 1991
HOANG Sieou-JeAugust 1991May 1993
Edward Tzu-Yu WUMay 1993August 1996
Raymond R.M. TAISeptember 1996January 2004[9]
Chou-seng TOUJanuary 200415 September 2008[10]
Larry WangSeptember 2008[11] December 2015
Matthew S.M. LEEDecember 2015current

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/01/23/pope_welcomes_new_taiwanese_ambassador/1203267 Pope welcomes new Taiwanese ambassador
  2. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/09/12/2003627538 Taiwan's European ally, the Vatican, says remains loyal
  3. http://www.boca.gov.tw/content.asp?mp=2&CuItem=2310 Europe Area
  4. http://www.mofa.gov.tw/EnMobile/OfficesInROC_Diplomatic_Detail.aspx?s=163B8937FBE0F186 Apostolic Nunciature
  5. http://www.mofa.gov.tw/en/CountryInfoEn.aspx?CASN=FB01D469347C76A7&n=5AFC4D64B1494D67&sms=A76B7230ADF29736&s=4ACFA38B877F185F Ufficio di Rappresentanza di Taipei in Italia
  6. Yan Kejia, Catholic Church in China (China Intercontinental Press; translated by Chen Shujie), p. 90
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20141230115650/http://www.taiwanembassy.org/VA/ct.asp?xItem=1489&CtNode=1182&mp=152&xp1= Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See - Organizations
  8. http://www.mofa.gov.tw/en/CountryInfoEn.aspx?CASN=FB01D469347C76A7&n=5AFC4D64B1494D67&sms=A76B7230ADF29736&s=FDC3BA2C714CD75F Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See
  9. https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1996/october/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19961004_ambasciatore-cina.html Address 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
  10. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/01/17/2003552723 Ex-envoy publishes book on Vatican ties
  11. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/intl-community/2015/10/11/448061/Holy-Sees.htm Holy See's secretary of state attends 10/10 Day reception