Netherlands–Taiwan relations explained

Netherlands–Taiwan relations
Party1:Netherlands
Party2:Taiwan
Map:Netherlands Taiwan Locator.png
Envoytitle1:Representative
Envoy1:Guido Jules Leopold Tielman
Envoytitle2:Representative
Envoy2:Chen, Hsing Hsing

Netherlands–Taiwan relations go back to the 1600s when the Dutch East India Company set up a colony on Taiwan.

Overview

Taiwan's interests in the Netherlands are represented by the Taipei Representative Office in the Netherlands[1] while Dutch interests in Taiwan are represented by the Netherlands Office Taipei.

History

See also: Dutch Formosa. From 1624 to 1662 and 1664 to 1668 the Dutch East India Company operated a colony on Taiwan. It was one of their most profitable colonies with 26% of the company's profits coming from their Taiwan operations in 1664. The Dutch East India Company were forced from their holdings by Koxinga and indigenous groups.[2]

In the 1980s Taiwan ordered two submarines from a Dutch shipyard which were delivered despite tremendous Chinese pressure.[3] China accused the Netherlands of colluding with American President Ronald Reagan and downgraded relations with the Netherlands as punishment and threatened to do the same to the US.[4]

To punish the Netherlands for delivering the submarines China downgraded diplomatic relations. In 1984 the Netherlands agreed not to export additional military goods in order to restore relations.[5]

In 2001 the Netherlands and Taiwan signed a double-taxation treaty.[6]

In 2020 the Netherlands changed the name of their representative office in Taiwan from “Netherlands Trade and Investment” to “Netherlands Office Taipei.” This change was meant to reflect the actual scope of Netherlands–Taiwan relations beyond simply trade and investment.[7] China reacted negatively to the change[8] with the government threatening to cut off sales of medical supplies to the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

In 2020 the Netherlands House of Representatives passed a motion supporting Taiwan's participation in international organizations.[10]

Foreign investment

The Dutch are considered to be Taiwan's first foreign investors due to their investments during the colonial period. In the modern era the Netherlands is Taiwan's largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI). Dutch electronics company ASML has significant investments in Taiwan and their long-term partnership with TSMC has allowed both of them to move to the head of their field. The Dutch electronics giant Philips was the largest initial investor in TSMC. Taiwanese FDI flows into the Netherlands are also significant.[11]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Liu . Lyla . Taiwan's representative in Netherlands announces North Sea New Year dive . www.taiwannews.com.tw . Taiwan News . 4 March 2021.
  2. Web site: In the days of the Dutch . taiwantoday.tw . Taiwan Today . 4 March 2021.
  3. Web site: Associated Press . DUTCH SUB ON WAY TO TAIWAN . www.joc.com . JOC . 4 March 2021.
  4. Web site: Sterba . James P. . CHINA ATTACKS U.S. ON DUTCH-TAIWAN DEAL . . 4 March 2021.
  5. Web site: SAITO . MARI . LEE . YIMOU . PARK . JU-MIN . KELLY . TIM . MACASKILL . ANDREW . WU . SARAH . LAGUE . DAVID . Silent partners . www.reuters.com . Reuters . 30 November 2021.
  6. Web site: Swire . Mary . Netherlands Signs Double Tax Treaty With Taiwan . www.tax-news.com . Tax News . 4 March 2021.
  7. Web site: Chao . Paula . Netherlands representative office changes name to Netherlands Office Taipei . en.rti.org.tw . Radio Taiwan International . 4 March 2021.
  8. Web site: Moca-Grama . Vlad . Chinese media calls for boycott of Dutch goods over Taiwan diplomatic row . dutchreview.com . Dutch Review . 4 March 2021.
  9. Web site: Everington . Keoni . China threatens to halt medical supplies after Netherlands changes Taiwan rep office name . www.taiwannews.com.tw . Taiwan News . 4 March 2021.
  10. Web site: Pei-ju . Teng . Dutch parliament passes motion supporting Taiwan's international participation . www.taiwannews.com.tw . Taiwan News . 4 March 2021.
  11. Web site: KASTNER . JENS . The Dutch Connection Remains Firm . topics.amcham.com.tw . Taiwan Topics . 4 March 2021.