Nativename: | 駐西班牙台北經濟文化辦事處 English: Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Spain Oficina Económica y Cultural de Taipei en España |
Formed: | 1973 (as Centro Sun Yat-sen) |
Jurisdiction: | |
Headquarters: | Madrid, Spain |
Chief1 Position: | Representative[1] |
Website: | Oficina Económica y Cultural de Taipei en España |
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Spain; (Spanish: Oficina Económica y Cultural de Taipei en España) represents the interests of Taiwan in Spain in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, functioning as a de facto embassy. Its counterpart in Taiwan is the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Taipei.[2]
The Office is headed by a Representative, currently Viva Chang.
The office was established as the Centro Sun Yat-sen in 1973.[3] Previously, Spain recognised Taiwan as the Republic of China, which was represented by an embassy in Madrid.[4] There were close relations between the governments of Francisco Franco and Chiang Kai-shek, both of which were anti-communist.[5] However, diplomatic relations were severed in 1973 when Spain recognised the People's Republic of China.[6]