Taiwan's multilateral and bilateral foreign relations are manifested in a variety of forms, including development cooperation, humanitarian aid, people's diplomacy, and liaisons with Taiwanese expatriate communities.

Multilateral Relations

Taiwan has made progress in joining international organizations and is now a member of 26 intergovernmental bodies. These include the World Trade Organization (WTO), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and Asian Development Bank. It has observer status or associate membership in another 18 intergovernmental organizations, including the Competition Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Inter-American Development Bank, International Council for Information Technology in Government Administration, and General Conference of Weights and Measures.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has demonstrated its appreciation for Taiwan's support by according "special observer" status to the Taiwanese delegation at its annual meetings. In October 2005, the OECD also recognized Taiwan as a regular observer in its Steel Committee and as an ad hoc observer in its Fisheries Committee, thereby granting it the right to participate in certain meetings upon invitation.

United Nations

Because Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, and because the People's Republic of China persists in utilizing its influence to keep Taiwan out of the world body, in many fields the 23 million people of Taiwan have no representation in international decision-making processes. They are even prevented from participating as individuals in multilateral humanitarian assistance and nongovernmental activities.

In 1993, the government began actively seeking representation for the people of Taiwan in the United Nations. This campaign has been spearheaded by Taiwan's diplomatic allies in the UN General Assembly. In addition to pushing for Taiwan's representation in the United Nations, in 2005 they submitted a proposal to the UN General Assembly entitled "A Proactive Role for the United Nations in Maintaining Peace in the Taiwan Strait." They did so not only in response to China's enactment of an "anti-separation law" (its so-called anti-secession law) but also in line with the United Nations' paramount mission to maintain peace.

Due to Beijing's obstruction, both proposals failed to be included on the agenda of the General Assembly. Nevertheless, they were passionately debated, and the logic behind the proposals has evoked positive feedback from most of the representatives at the General Committee Meeting. Vocal support for Taiwan's UN participation has also been heard at other UN events, including the High-Level Plenary Meeting, General Debate, and Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments.

Hence, the Taiwanese people's desire to participate in the United Nations and commitment to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait have been cogently expressed, and have been appreciated by the international community.

World Trade Organization

On January 1, 2002, Taiwan became the 144th member of the World Trade Organization. Since establishment of its permanent mission to the WTO, Taiwan has sought to play a constructive role in the ongoing round of negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda. This endeavor has expanded Taiwan's opportunities to participate in international economic activities.

Taiwan fully supports the multilateral trade system's promotion of development among the least developed countries (LDCs) in accordance with the Doha mandate. Taiwan has granted duty-free access to 141 LDC products and, with a contribution of US$188,000 in 2005, continued its financial support of the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund.

The sixth biennial WTO Ministerial Conference was convened in Hong Kong December 13-18, 2005. Taiwan's delegation comprised 46 representatives of various government agencies. It initiated bilateral meetings with 13 countries and participated in a number of multilateral meetings with countries sharing its concerns, most notably the G10, a coalition of ten major food importers, including Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland. Taiwan also expressed hopes for future cooperation with the United States and European Union on nonagricultural market access (NAMA) issues.

World Health Organization

Humanitarian issues are of global concern, and communicable diseases do not respect political borders. Accordingly, Taiwan launched a campaign in 1997 to obtain observer status at the World Health Assembly (WHA), the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization. Supported by proposals submitted annually thereafter by Taiwan's allies, success in the ongoing campaign would both enable Taiwan's citizens to benefit from WHO activities and allow other WHO members to benefit from Taiwan's resources and rich experience in promoting public health and combating infectious diseases.

Malawi, Belize, and Saõ Tomé and Príncipe submitted a proposal in 2005 urging the WHO to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer. The proposal was first discussed at the meeting of the General Committee of the WHA on May 16. Fifty-four countries spoke on the proposal, with 21 in support and 33 opposing. At the second plenary meeting on the same day, the proposal was debated again, with Chad (with which Taiwan had diplomatic ties until August 2006) and Malawi in support and Pakistan and China against. The proposal was not included in the Assembly's agenda, however.

During discussions on revision of the International Health Regulations (IHR), Taiwan's allies strove to persuade WHO members of the importance of including Taiwan in the global disease prevention network. Eventually, the words "universal application" were incorporated into IHR Article 3, thereby strengthening the legal basis for Taiwan's inclusion.

To better safeguard the Taiwanese people's right to enjoy the best possible health and contribute to international health projects, Taiwan seeks to participate in WHO technical meetings and activities. After lengthy negotiations, Taiwanese experts and health officials were invited to participate in 11 meetings hosted by the WHO between June and December 2005. Taiwan will continue its efforts to ensure that its participation in the WHO is formalized.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Since joining the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 1991, Taiwan has played an active role in its activities and taken charge of several working groups and sub-fora over recent years.

Currently, Taiwan serves as chair of the International Science and Technology Network (Sub-group B) of the Industry, Science and Technology Working Group; convener of the Human Resource Development Steering Group of the Telecommunications and Information Working Group (TEL); deputy convener of the Development and Cooperation Steering Group of the TEL; chair of the Expert Group on Efficiency and Conservation of the Energy Working Group; and Lead Shepherd of the Fisheries Working Group.

In November 2005, the 13th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting was held in Busan, Korea. Representing President Chen Shui-bian 陳水扁 at the meeting was Senior Advisor to the President Lin Hsin-i 林信義. The meeting concluded with the signing of the Busan Declaration, which focused on advancing free trade, enhancing human security, and ensuring APEC's overall progress.

Given the fruitful outcome of Taiwan's previous APEC Digital Opportunity Center (ADOC) initiative, Senior Advisor Lin proposed the ADOC Plus initiative, which calls for combining the existing ADOC program with Thailand's One Tambon One Product (OTOP) project (tambon means township). The ADOC Plus initiative is aimed at utilizing the existing ADOC framework to help member economies develop industries with local characteristics while narrowing the digital divide.

Taiwan will continue to be an active APEC member, contributing creative initiatives and strengthening cooperation with other member economies to fulfill common goals and build a stable and prosperous Asia-Pacific community.

Bilateral Relations

Taiwan maintains full diplomatic relations with 24 countries and endeavors to establish diplomatic ties, or substantively enhance relations, with other countries on the basis of pragmatic diplomacy in pursuit of shared goals. Taiwan maintains 92 representative and branch offices in the capitals and major cities of 59 countries. Although these offices are variously named—such as the Taipei Representative Office, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, or Trade Mission of the Republic of China—most of them perform the functions of embassies and consulates.

Reciprocally, 48 countries that do not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan have established 58 representative offices or visa-issuing offices in Taiwan.

Asia and the Pacific

Taiwan is an East Asian country occupying a strategic location in the western Pacific. The security and prosperity of Taiwan depend on peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific, which are vital to the interests of all nations.

Taiwan maintains diplomatic relations with, and has embassies in, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Republic of Kiribati, and Republic of Nauru. In addition, Taiwan has signed communiqués of mutual recognition with Fiji and Papua New Guinea, and maintains substantive relations with all other countries in the Asia-Pacific through 25 representative and branch offices.

Taiwan works to promote regional integration through a number of channels. Most important is APEC, of which Taiwan is a full member (see the foregoing section on APEC in this chapter). Taiwan is also a key member of the Asian Development Bank, contributing both financial support and expertise to promote balanced regional development. In the security field, Taiwan is active in numerous "track two" regional dialogues. Taiwanese experts participated in the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual Asian security conference in Singapore hosted by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Northeast Asia

Northeast Asia is a dynamic region in which Taiwan is a strategic fulcrum at its southern end. Enhancing Taiwan's security dialogue and regional cooperation with Northeast Asian countries is therefore of vital importance in strengthening the security and prosperity of the region and, indeed, of the entire world.

For the past half century, Taiwan has had close ties with Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) via trade, cultural exchanges, technical cooperation, and professional exchanges.

In 2005, Taiwan's bilateral trade with Japan totaled US$60.42 billion, with a US$31.46 billion deficit. Two-way trade with the ROK totaled US$18 billion, with a US$7.5 billion deficit.

Taiwan re-established the Busan office of the Taipei Mission in Korea in January 2005, following the resumption of regular air links in 2004. The office is expected to benefit not only bilateral relations but also the more than 5,000 Taiwanese living in the southern part of the ROK.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Diet passed a bill enabling Taiwan's citizens to make visa-free visits of up to 90 days during the period of the EXPO 2005 at Aichi, which lasted from March 11 to September 25, 2005. Subsequent new regulations making the visa-free entry privilege permanent came into effect on September 26. This treatment has been reciprocated by Taiwan's government, and visits between Taiwan and Japan surpassed the two million mark in 2005, setting a new record.

As an outcome of the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee meeting held in February 2005, peace in the Taiwan Strait was for the first time included as a common strategic goal in the Japan-US Security Treaty. After China passed its "anti-separation law" in March 2005, several high-level Japanese officials expressed grave concern and openly opposed the use of military force to resolve cross-strait sovereignty issues.

In order to strengthen Taiwan-Japan relations and improve administrative efficiency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) 外交部 consolidated its personnel responsible for Japan-related endeavors by officially establishing the Committee on Japanese Affairs 日本事務會 on October 15, 2005.

Chairman Lo Fu-chen 羅福全 of the Association of East Asian Relations 亞東關係協會 led the Taiwanese delegation at the 30th Taiwan-Japan Economic and Trade Meeting in Tokyo on November 30 and December 1, 2005. The delegation from Japan was led by Reijiro Hattori, chairman of the Interchange Association, Japan. Issues related to the WTO, APEC, free trade agreements, intellectual property rights, fishery and agriculture were discussed at the meeting. In addition, an agreement on the transportation of hazardous wastes was signed.

Southeast Asia

Taiwan has long enjoyed close ties with Southeast Asian countries due to historical, cultural, and geographic links. Currently, Taiwan maintains representative offices in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

In 1994, the government of Taiwan promulgated guidelines for enhancing trade and commercial relations with Southeast Asia, popularly known as the "go south" policy. In recent years, Taiwan has signed various trade- and investment-related agreements with most countries in the region. These cover such areas as mutual protection of investments, avoidance of double taxation, customs, aviation rights, and cooperation in the fields of agriculture, science and technology, and tourism. To strengthen trade relations, Taiwan holds annual ministerial-level meetings with the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Taiwan's trade with the region as a whole has expanded since Taiwan's accession to the WTO in 2002. It totaled US$43.45 billion in 2005, representing a year-on-year growth of 5.76 percent.

The ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is pursuing the creation of an ASEAN-centered free trade area. In November 2004, ASEAN leaders signed the Agreement on Trade in Goods and Agreement on Dispute Settlement Mechanism with China, paving the way toward the establishment of an ASEAN-China Free Trade Area scheduled to come into being in 2010.

Like ASEAN members, Taiwan is also a member of APEC, and has been working closely with ASEAN member states to promote trade liberalization in the region. Given its close trade and investment relations with most of the countries in the region, Taiwan hopes to be included in future regional free-trade agreements. Preliminarily, it is seeking to become an ASEAN dialogue partner and a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum.

South Asia

India has been an important focus of Taiwan's diplomatic efforts in the South Asian region. Since the reciprocal establishment of representative offices in 1995, bilateral trade has more than trebled, now standing at nearly US$2 billion per year. Taiwanese investments in this area have been growing fast, while the number of tourists is also increasing.

In August 2001, Taiwan and India signed a memorandum of understanding on civil aviation. Taiwanese carrier China Airlines 中華航空 inaugurated passenger services to New Delhi in April 2002, indicating the importance which both Taiwan and India attach to building closer ties.

In October 2002, the two nations signed an Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investment. In March 2005, the government of India relaxed regulations regarding visa applications by Taiwan's citizens. Indian consular and representative offices around the world have been authorized to issue visas to Taiwanese visitors. India also approved the issuing of machine-readable visas by the Taiwanese representative office in New Delhi.

Since Taiwan established a representative office in Bangladesh in March 2004, bilateral economic and trade relations have been developing apace.

West Asia

During a visit to the United Arab Emirates, President Chen discusses opportunities for bilateral cooperation with Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department for Planning and Economy, Abu Dhabi. (Courtesy of the Office of the President)

As the designation applies to MOFA operations, West Asia comprises the 12 permanent or associate member nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Mongolia, and 17 nations plus Palestine in the Middle East. This area thus extends from Mongolia and Pakistan in the east, to Turkey in the west, and from Russia in the north, to the Arabian Peninsula in the southwest.

Based on economic exchanges and technical cooperation, as well as religious, academic, and cultural exchanges, bilateral relations between Taiwan and countries in West Asia have developed steadily. Taiwan has representative offices or economic and cultural offices in 11 countries in the region, namely Bahrain, Belarus, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Mongolia, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Among these countries, Israel, Jordan, Mongolia, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have trade offices in Taiwan.

With regard to bilateral relations between Taiwan and CIS countries, Mr. Sergei Gaidukevich, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus, visited Taiwan in March 2005 to strengthen political, economic, and cultural relations between Taiwan and Belarus. In September 2005, a delegation of the Taiwan-Russia Association visited Russia to promote two-way trade and signed purchasing contracts amounting to US$300 million. A Russian delegation headed by Mr. Victor Voytenko, chairman of the parliamentary group of the State Duma for relations with Taiwan, visited Taiwan in November 2005 to strengthen interparliamentary ties with Taiwan's Legislative Yuan.

To promote bilateral cooperation on tourism, a delegation headed by Mr. Amgalanbaatar Ganbaatar, director general of Mongolia's Department of Tourism Policy and Coordination of the Ministry of Road Transportation and Tourism, participated in the 2005 Taipei Travel Fair in November 2005.

Dr. Yoram Blachar, President of the Israel Medical Association, visited Taiwan and exchanged medical experience with local medical organizations in April 2005.

The Pilgrim Mission of Taiwan undertook its annual journey and visited Mecca in Saudi Arabia in January 2005, taking the occasion to promote cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Islamic nations. In August, then Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Tan-sun 陳唐山 was appointed as special envoy of the president to visit Saudi Arabia to express congratulations to King Abdullah on his assuming the throne, and to mourn the passing of the late King Fahd.

In October 2005, President Chen Shui-bian led a high-level delegation on a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of economic development and trade, transportation, tourism, and science and technology.

Oceania

Taiwan continued in 2005 to strengthen ties with the countries in Oceania, including the island states of the South Pacific plus Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Currently, it maintains embassies in the Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Palau, Kiribati, and Nauru, the last of which re-established formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan on May 14, 2005. In addition, Taiwan maintains eight representative and branch offices in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji.

Numerous high-ranking officials from Oceania visited Taiwan in 2005. Prime Minister Maatia Toafa of Tuvalu and President Ludwig Scotty of the Republic of Nauru made visits to Taiwan in May, and Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena of the Solomon Islands led a delegation in July. In August, Madam Mary Note, first lady of the Marshall Islands, and Vice President Elias Camsek Chin of Palau led delegations to attend the Democratic Pacific Union's 民主太平洋聯盟 inaugural ceremony. Vice President Teima Onorio of the Republic of Kiribati led a delegation to attend Taiwan's National Day celebrations in October, and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza visited Taiwan in December.

Meanwhile, President Chen Shui-bian led delegations on visits to Palau and the Solomon Islands in late January 2005, and to the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu in May. Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien 呂秀蓮 led a delegation to Palau in June.

The progress made in pursuing cooperative arrangements over a broad range of subjects in 2005 underlines the growing strength of bilateral relations between Taiwan and South Pacific nations.

Similarly, Taiwan's substantive relations with Australia and New Zealand have been reinforced in recent years through cultural, social, economic, and personal contacts. In July 2005, the 10th Taiwan-Australian Economic Consultation and 12th Taiwan-New Zealand Economic Consultation meetings were held in Canberra and Wellington, respectively.

During 2005, Taiwan and New Zealand signed a number of agreements, including the Bilateral Quarantine Arrangement Concerning the Access of Host Material of Fruit Fly Species of Economic Significance, Arrangement in Relation to Facilitating Trade in Electrical and Electronic Products, and Scientific Cooperation Arrangement.

The 16 countries of this region compose the membership of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Following the PIF's annual summit of heads of government, dialogue partners from outside the region are invited to participate in post-forum discussions. Taiwan has sent a delegation every year since first being invited in 1992. Through its interactions with the forum, Taiwan provides regional economic and technological assistance and educational training.

Africa

People in The Gambia line up to see volunteer doctors from the Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps. The corps is a Taiwanese NGO that specializes in providing overseas medical aid. (Courtesy of Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps)

Africa's political scene has undergone many changes, with over half of the countries on the continent holding multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections and embracing democratization and the rule of law. The African Union, which replaced the Organization of African Unity in July 2002, has played an active role in attempting to integrate African countries and enhance order and prosperity on the continent.

Five African countries maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. These are Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Malawi, Saõ Tomé and Príncipe, and Swaziland. Taiwan has embassies in each of these countries, which all maintain embassies in Taiwan. Furthermore, Taiwan has a representative office in Nigeria and liaison offices in South Africa, while both of these countries have also established trade and liaison offices in Taipei.

Taiwan's African allies have long supported its participation in international organizations. In September 2005, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Malawi, and Saõ Tomé and Príncipe jointly submitted two proposals to the UN General Assembly, urging it to ensure "the representation of 23 million people of Taiwan in the United Nations" and to play "a proactive role by the United Nations in maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait." Saõ Tomé and Príncipe and Malawi submitted a proposal to the World Health Assembly in May 2005 to invite Taiwan to participate in the Assembly as an observer. The proposal was discussed and fully supported by all of Taiwan's African allies at the Assembly.

Taiwan currently has several technical cooperation and medical missions in Africa. They are striving to revitalize agricultural production and improve medical services in allied countries. Moreover, since the end of 2001, through the Taiwan Youth Overseas Service 外交替代役, Taiwan has dispatched young people to its African allies to help carry out the operations of various missions.

In recent years, Taiwanese nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have played increasingly important humanitarian roles in Africa. For instance, Taiwan's Chinese Christian Dental Services 中華牙醫服務團 donated dental equipment to Malawi and Swaziland in February 2005 and, annually since 2000, the Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps 台灣路竹會 has organized a group to visit countries in the region to offer free medical examinations and treatment. World Vision Taiwan 台灣世界展望會 has funded emergency relief, community development, and child sponsorship projects in a number of African countries, while the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation Taiwan 台灣佛教慈濟慈善事業基金會 has set up vocational training institutes in South Africa.

In 2005, Taiwan donated emergency relief funds to both The Gambia and Saõ Tomé and Príncipe to battle cholera, and provided financial assistance to Malawi and Chad to fight severe famine. The Pu-Hsien Educational Foundation 普賢文教基金會 donated a container of wheelchairs and other medical equipment to each of nine African countries. In December 2005, an emergency five-member team was dispatched to Saõ Tomé and Príncipe to assist with cholera control.

These examples highlight the close cooperative relations between Taiwan and its African allies, as well as Taiwan's humanitarian concern for Africa as a whole.

High-level exchanges between Taiwan and African nations have served to consolidate relations, increase mutual trust and understanding, and, through example, to promote democracy. African leaders who visited Taiwan in 2005 included President Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika of the Republic of Malawi, President Idriss Deby of the Republic of Chad, President Dr. Alhaji Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh of the Republic of The Gambia, and President Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes of the Democratic Republic of Saõ Tomé and Príncipe. In December 2005, Weng Yueh-sheng 翁岳生, president of the Judicial Yuan, led a delegation to attend the inaugural ceremony of President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso.

Europe

Taiwan has always maintained close relations with the nations of Europe. These include commercial, cultural, technological, educational, and tourism-related exchanges. Relations with Europe are conducted both bilaterally and through pan-European institutions, especially those of the European Union.

Currently, Taiwan has an embassy at the Holy See and representative offices in 19 EU countries, as well as in Norway and Switzerland. It also maintains economic and cultural offices in Edinburgh, Geneva, Hamburg, and Munich. Furthermore, Taiwan established a Permanent Mission to the WTO in Geneva in 2002. The Taipei Representative Office in Belgium is in charge of EU affairs as well as relations with Belgium and Luxembourg.

In addition to the embassy of the Holy See, representative offices have been established in Taipei by Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the UK, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the European Union.

Taiwan has signed over 100 agreements, protocols, and memoranda with European countries. On August 30, 2005, the Danish Trade Organizations' Taipei Office and the Taipei Representative Office in Copenhagen signed an agreement covering "the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income," which came into force on December 22, 2005. Taiwan and Belgium also signed an agreement on double taxation avoidance in October 2004, which came into force on December 14, 2005.

In 2005, two-way Taiwan-Europe trade amounted to US$45.05 billion, with exports to Europe reaching US$23.26 billion and imports from Europe coming to US$21.79 billion. The European Union is Taiwan's fourth-largest trading partner, after China, the United States and Japan.

Interparliamentary exchanges have become an increasingly important feature of relations between Taiwan and Europe. Currently, the European Parliament and the parliaments of 20 European nations have established interparliamentary friendship groups with Taiwan. In 2005, the European Parliament passed several resolutions urging the European Council and EU member states to maintain the European Union's arms embargo against China.

In a teleconference with members of the European Parliament on March 1, 2005, President Chen Shui-bian urged Taiwan's friends in the European Parliament to stand up for Taiwan and support its efforts to participate in international organizations.

On April 7, 2005, President Chen made a three-day visit to the Vatican to attend Pope John Paul II's funeral mass. In doing so, President Chen became the first ROC president to visit the Holy See since the two countries established formal diplomatic ties in 1942, and the first ROC president to set foot in Europe.

North America

United States

As Taiwan's third-largest trading partner and a key supporter of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, the United States plays a significant role in Taiwan's foreign relations. The two countries also share a wide range of political and cultural values. Relations between Taiwan and the United States are currently conducted under the framework of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, 1982 Six Assurances, and 1994 Taiwan Policy Review.

Over recent years, Taiwan-US relations have greatly progressed in many respects, including stopovers in the United States by high-ranking Taiwanese officials, mutual visits by officials and military personnel, US arms sales to Taiwan, and US support for Taiwan's efforts to join international organizations such as the World Health Organization and, as an observer, the Organization of American States.

High-level visits between the two countries have continued apace. In 2005, President Chen transited in the United States twice, and Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien once. The visits were handled by the United States under the principle of "safety, comfort, convenience, and respect."

Then Secretary-General to the President Yu Shyi-kun 游錫堃 visited Washington DC and New York in May, and in June, then Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Tan-sun visited San Francisco, where he addressed the Northern California World Affairs Council. He again visited the United States in November to deliver a speech at his alma mater Purdue University. Mainland Affairs Council Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu 吳釗燮 visited Washington DC in December. A delegation led by Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng 王金平 visited Phoenix, New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC in June.

Many prominent US representatives visited Taiwan in 2005, including those in a delegation from the National Committee on US-China Relations, former US President Bill Clinton, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Randall Schriver. Regarding interparliamentary relations, following the establishment of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus (CTC) by the US House of Representatives in 2002, senators George Allen (R-Virginia) and Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) founded the Senate Taiwan Caucus (STC) in 2003. As of the end of 2005, 24 of the 100 senators were members of the STC. Six members of the US Congress visited Taiwan in 2005, including Senator George Allen, who is co-chairman of the STC, and Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-West Virginia).

During the first session of the 109th Congress, House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 98 was passed to express Congress's concerns regarding China's passage of the "anti-separation law" (or so-called anti-secession law). Both the House and the Senate passed resolutions urging the European Union not to lift its arms embargo against China.

The United States is one of Taiwan's most important trading partners. Bilateral trade between the two totaled US$49.5 billion in 2005, with US$28.5 billion in exports to the United States and US$21 billion worth of imports from the United States.

In order to strengthen bilateral trade relations, Taiwan has pressed for talks on a Taiwan-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The US Congress has also shown interest in establishing a Taiwan-US FTA. In 2003, representatives Jim Ramstad (R-Minnesota) and William Jefferson (D-Louisiana) introduced a concurrent resolution, expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should increase bilateral trade opportunities by launching negotiations to enter into an FTA with Taiwan. This resolution was subsequently cosponsored by 70 members of Congress.

In addition, many state legislatures have expressed support for a Taiwan-US FTA. As of December 2005, 23 state legislatures had passed resolutions urging the United States to launch negotiations for such an agreement. The Council of State Governments and the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) passed similar resolutions in 2005 in support of a Taiwan-US FTA.

Canada

The relationship between Taiwan and Canada has developed steadily based on long-standing economic, cultural, and social ties, as well as the shared values of democracy, peace, and human rights. Taiwan maintains a representative office in Ottawa and branch offices in Toronto and Vancouver. In addition to the Canadian federal government, the provincial governments of British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec have set up trade representative offices in Taiwan.

In 2005, Canada's imports from Taiwan totaled US$1.67 billion, while its exports to Taiwan were worth US$1.31 billion.

In terms of cultural exchanges and person-to-person relations, Taiwan is Canada's seventh-largest source of foreign students and tourists.

In 2005, 19 members of the Canadian Parliament and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agrifood Leonard Edwards visited Taiwan, while Taiwan's Vice President of the Examination Yuan Wu Rong-ming 吳容明, then Minister of the Council for Cultural Affairs Chen Chi-nan 陳其南, and Council for Hakka Affairs Minister Lee Yung-te 李永得 visited Canada.

Latin America

President Chen Shui-bian (fourth from left) and other representatives at the Fifth Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Republic of China, Central America, and the Dominican Republic pose for the press. (Courtesy of the Office of the President)

Latin America has long been a stronghold for Taiwan's diplomacy. Taiwan maintains full diplomatic relations with 12 of the 35 countries in the region. It has embassies in each of their capitals, as well as consulates general in Oriental City in Paraguay, Colon in Panama, and San Pedro Sula in Honduras, while ten of these allies have embassies in Taipei.

Taiwan also maintains substantive relations with many other countries in the region and has established representative offices in ten of them, while six of them have trade offices in Taiwan.

Moreover, Taiwan maintains close and cordial ties with the Central American Parliament, the System for the Integration of Central America, the Central American and Caribbean Congress Speaker Forum, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration.

Friendships with Taiwan's diplomatic allies have been consolidated through a number of official visits. Vice President Luis Alberto Castiglioni of Paraguay, Vice President Ana Vilma Albánez de Escobar and former President Francisco Guillermo Flores Pérez of El Salvador, Prime Minister Denzil Douglas of Saint Kitts and Nevis, President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella of Costa Rica, Vice President José Rizo Castellón of Nicaragua, Deputy Prime Minister John Briceno of Belize, and President Ricardo Maduro of Honduras visited Taiwan in 2005.

High-ranking officials from Taiwan also made frequent visits to Central and South America and the Caribbean. Then Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Tan-sun visited Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and Minister Chang Fu-mei 張富美 of the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission visited El Salvador. In March of that year, Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien led a delegation to El Salvador and Guatemala. In the latter country, they attended the Democratic Pacific Union Eastern Pacific Regional Conference, and the vice president signed a memorandum of understanding to assist in maintaining Antigua City's cultural relics. President Chen Shui-bian led a delegation to Guatemala, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines September 22-29, 2005.

At a meeting with ministers from the seven Central American nations plus the Dominican Republic held in Taipei on March 4, 2005, Minister Chen Tan-sun signed a joint communiqué which strengthened cooperation and reiterated these allies' firm support for Taiwan's participation in the United Nations, World Health Assembly, and various multilateral organizations. On December 20, 2005, Minister Chen signed an agreement with the Republic of Paraguay's Minister of Foreign Affairs Leila Rachid concerning the dispatching of Taiwanese volunteers to Paraguay.

To promote further Taiwanese investment in allied nations, the MOFA promulgated the Regulations Governing Subsidies for Encouraging Business Entrepreneurs to Invest in Countries Having Diplomatic Relations with Taiwan 鼓勵業者赴有邦交國家投資補助辦法 and the Regulations for the International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan) in Providing Guarantees for Credit Facilities Extended to Private Enterprises Investing in Countries with Formal Diplomatic Relations 財團法人國際合作發展基金會辦理民間業者赴有邦交國家投資授信保證處理辦法.

To date, Taiwanese firms have invested capital in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Paraguay, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, contributing to economic development and employment in these countries. Taiwan and Guatemala signed an FTA on September 22, 2005. Discussions in 2005 on FTAs between Taiwan and both Nicaragua and Paraguay reached a consensus on many issues.

In 2005, Taiwan stationed 15 technical missions with a total of 110 people to Latin American countries. They provided assistance in developing agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry, handicrafts, and hydroelectricity, as well as for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

In addition to long-term development projects, Taiwan provided timely aid and humanitarian relief assistance to countries in this region. Taiwan also continued to dispatch professional table tennis coaches to assist the national teams of Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid

Development Cooperation

Taiwan shares its experience of successful development with friendly developing nations through international cooperation programs. In 1996, the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) 財團法人國際合作發展基金會 was established to consolidate the planning and implementation of such programs, which are continually expanding in number and scope.

TaiwanICDF programs cover areas of banking and finance, technical cooperation, human resources development, and humanitarian assistance. These programs aim to reduce poverty by stimulating economic activity. The TaiwanICDF has also established long-term technical missions in partner countries. By the end of 2005, 35 missions with 249 specialists were operating in 29 countries.

In keeping with the new focus on "people's diplomacy" 全民外交, the role of volunteers in TaiwanICDF programs has been steadily expanding. As of December 2005, the fund had recruited and dispatched 176 volunteers to 25 countries. From 2001 to 2005, 112 young men completed their assignments for the fund's Taiwan Youth Overseas Service Program. Another 66 substitute servicemen were recruited in 2004 and, after completing basic and professional training, were dispatched to join technical and medical missions in January 2005.

Since 1998, the TaiwanICDF has established graduate programs with full scholarships for foreign agriculturalists to study at the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) 國立屏東科技大學. The program was augmented two years later to include commercial studies at the National Chengchi University (NCCU) 國立政治大學, which lead to an international MBA.

Following upon the success of these programs, the TaiwanICDF established further scholarship programs in cooperation with seven universities, including the NPUST, NCCU, National Tsing Hua University 國立清華大學, National Yang Ming University 國立陽明大學, National Taiwan Ocean University 國立海洋大學, National Taiwan Normal University 國立臺灣師範大學, and National Central University 國立中央大學. These universities offer master's or Ph.D. programs in accordance with their respective specialties. In addition, the Kun Shan University 崑山科技大學 initiated a master's program on plastic injection and precision molding in 2005.

By January 2006, a total of 145 students from 22 countries had benefited from the TaiwanICDF scholarship programs.

Humanitarian Aid

In addition to establishing long-term development programs, Taiwan engages in humanitarian efforts. Over 30 charitable organizations have joined the government in providing emergency relief in over 50 countries. Volunteers and specialists recruited by Taiwan's NGOs offer their services wherever needed, irrespective of whether the beneficiary countries maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Taiwan's governmental agencies provide all possible assistance.

In October 2005, for example, one day after an earthquake shook northern Pakistan, World Vision Taiwan organized medical missions and donated US$100,000 for relief work in the devastated area. Similarly, the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association 清海無上師世界會 sent two medical teams with 31 members to Pakistan, followed by shipments of tents, scarves, and hats, while the International Headquarters Search and Rescue (SAR) Taiwan 台灣國際搜救協會 delivered two tons of relief materials. Within one week, the MOFA announced that Taiwan would supply emergency kits of medicines, medical equipment, rice, blankets, and rations to the affected area.

People's Diplomacy

In 2005, the MOFA approved 524 funding applications by domestic NGOs to attend or host international meetings or activities at home and abroad. Especially noteworthy were the Taiwan Association of Theatre Technology's 台灣技術劇場協會 successful bid to move the Secretariat of the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians from the Netherlands to Taiwan; the Taiwan Emission Trading Association's 台灣碳排放交易推廣協會 becoming a full member of the International Emission Trading Association; the Taiwan Flour Mills Association's 台灣麥粉工會 admission as a corporate member to the International Association for Cereal Science and Technology; and the Eden Social Welfare Foundation's 伊甸社會福利基金會 becoming a full member of Workability International.

The MOFA sponsored various large-scale international events in Taiwan in 2005, including meetings of the International Forum on Legal Aid, 2005 Rotary International Presidential Celebration, 2005 General Assembly of the Association of Asian Election Authorities, 2005 Taipei Bird Watching Fair, 2005 International Conference on Ecolabelling, and World Forum for Democratization in Asia, as well as the inaugural ceremony of the Democratic Pacific Union.

To support NGOs' efforts and help train their workers to organize and participate in international activities, the MOFA decided in 2002 to provide subsidies to NGOs operating in the following four areas: promotion of democracy, human rights, and peace; humanitarian assistance and medical treatment; the welfare of women, children, handicapped, indigenous peoples, and social welfare in general; and environmental protection, conservation, and volunteer work. The NGO Affairs Committee arranges training programs domestically and helps NGOs send staff members to work as interns in international organizations. In 2005, the leaders of ten leading NGOs participated in a training program at Portland State University.

Overseas Compatriots

Every year, overseas compatriots around the globe attend the ROC's Double Tenth National Day celebration in Taiwan on October 10. In 2005, almost 4,500 of them from 44 countries participated. To facilitate their visits, the OCAC operates a special reception center.

Culture and Education

In 2005, the OCAC subsidized more than 200 overseas Mandarin and Holo language schools, and provided textbooks for more than 800 schools. There were over 5,300 teachers around the world participating in OCAC-sponsored workshops, while more than 3,000 overseas youths returned to Taiwan to attend language and cultural seminars.

The Chung Hwa Correspondence School (CHCS) 中華函授學校, established in 1940, offers opportunities for lifelong learning to overseas compatriots through programs in Chinese language and literature, vocational training, and general educational courses. In 2005, the CHCS offered 11 programs and 74 different courses, and about 13,000 students worldwide registered for courses. Since 2004, the CHCS has offered online courses, which have become popular.

In 1998, the OCAC established the Global Chinese Language and Culture Center 全球華文網路教育中心 to serve overseas compatriots. The center offers online language and cultural courses covering Mandarin, Holo, and Hakka. Digital educational resources with diverse contents are available for those familiar with English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French.

In order to allow overseas compatriots to take part in the Taiwan experience, the OCAC held 872 sports and arts activities and cultural festivals in 2005.

As in previous years, the commission also helped organize the Taiwanese American Heritage Week and Asian Tradition Month in the United States, and made similar organizational contributions in other countries. In addition, the OCAC organized overseas tours of Taiwan's performing groups, presenting 55 shows in Oceania, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Canada, and the United States.

Media Services

The OCAC subsidizes Taiwan Macroview TV 台灣宏觀電視, which broadcasts round-the-clock programs about Taiwan to overseas compatriots in Mandarin, Holo, Hakka, Cantonese, and English. The programs are transmitted to the whole world via Channels KU and C on the ST-1 satellite and via Channel KU on six other satellites, including Intelsat Americas 5, TelStar-12, SATMEX 5, NSS-5, and Measat-2. The programs present a diversity of content, including news, entertainment, drama series, children's education, cuisine and leisure.

To provide the latest news about overseas compatriot communities, the OCAC also publishes Macroview Weekly 宏觀周報, which has an overseas circulation of 32,500 and is distributed free of charge through more than 400 outlets worldwide.

In October 2004, the former Macroview Times was expanded to become the MacroDigit Times 宏觀影音電子報, providing overseas compatriots with the most current online news and information about activities of expatriate communities through website links with the Taiwan Macroview TV.

Economic Integration

As the world moves towards economic integration, and more and more Taiwanese businesspeople invest overseas, the OCAC has become aware of the need to consolidate the business strengths of Taiwanese entrepreneurs. To this end, it has assisted in establishing Taiwanese chambers of commerce in North, Central, and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. To help coordinate their activities, a continental council was set up in North America in 1987, and a World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce 世界台灣商會聯合總會 was established in 1994.

In fiscal year 2005, the government approved nine applications by overseas compatriots to invest a total of US$9.51 million in Taiwan, with 45.57 percent going to the banking and insurance sectors, and the remainder to the construction and textiles industries. Of the total, 40.58 percent came from overseas compatriots residing in the United States. In addition, the scope of the Overseas Chinese Credit Guarantee Fund 華僑貸款信用保證基金 has been expanded in the last few years to enhance the economic status of overseas compatriots. In 2005, the fund provided a total of 302 credit guarantees valued at US$76.2 million.

Related Websites
Ministry of Foreign Affairs：	http://www.mofa.gov.tw
Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission：	http://www.ocac.gov.tw
International Cooperation and Development Fund：	http://www.icdf.org.tw
Taiwan Foundation for Democracy：	http://www.tfd.org.tw
Taiwan Macroview TV：	http://mactv.cts.com.tw

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