Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia

The Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia (Chinese: 駐拉脫維亞臺北代表團; pinyin: Zhù Lātuōwéiyǎ Táiběi Dàibiǎo Tuán) (Latvian: Taipejas Misijas Latvijas Republikā) represents the interests of Taiwan in the Republic of Latvia in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, functioning as a de facto embassy.[1]

Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia
駐拉脫維亞臺北代表團
Taipejas Misijas Latvijas Republikā
Agency overview
FormedJanuary 1992 (as Consulate General of the Republic of China in Riga)
Jurisdiction Latvia
 Estonia
Headquarters14 Auseklis Street, Central District, Riga, Latvia
Agency executive
WebsiteTaipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia

Background

The aim of the representative office is to further bilateral cooperation between Latvia and Taiwan in the fields of economics, culture, education and research. In addition, it offers consular services and the consular jurisdiction of the office also extends to Estonia.[2]

On 21 August 1991, Latvia became independent from the Soviet Union and on November of the same year, Latvia and Taiwan signed an agreement for the 'mutual establishment of trade missions', while at the same time maintaining diplomatic relations with China. On 29 January 1992, Latvia signed an agreement on the opening of a Taiwanese consulate general in the Latvian capital city of Riga. This policy was allegedly due to Latvian desires of receiving development aid from Taiwan, which, however, did not materialize. In response, China withdrew its ambassador and diplomatic staff from Latvia and froze relations between Latvia. On 17 September 1992, a 25-member delegation headed by Latvian Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis and Foreign Minister of Latvia Jānis Jurkāns made an official visit to Taiwan. During the delegation's visit, Latvia and Taiwan signed agreement for investment-protection and a letter of intent to establish direct flights between the capital cities of Taipei and Riga.[3][4][5][6]

After a new Latvian government under Valdis Birkavs came to power following the 1993 parliamentary election, the Taiwanese consulate general in Riga was closed and Latvia normalized its relations with China in 1994 due to Latvia receiving very little investment from Taiwan and the conducting of a much larger trade with China. In November 1995, the consulate general was downgraded to Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia and in October 1996, it began its operations.[7][8][9][10]

Since March 2022, the office is headed by a representative, currently Andrew H.C. Lee, who previously served as the representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Brunei.[11]

See also

References
  1. "駐外館處". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of China (Taiwan). Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  2. "拉脫維亞". Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). 10 July 2017. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  3. "第三章 中外關係". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of China (Taiwan). Archived from the original on February 10, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  4. "本處與駐在國關係". Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia. 2013-02-06. Archived from the original on 2020-11-22. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  5. Park, Ausra (2022-11-01). "Punching Above Their Weight? The Baltic States and the Peoples Republic of China". Australian Institute of International Affairs. Archived from the original on 2022-11-01. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  6. "Despite Beijing's displeasure, Latvia plans to establish ties with Taiwan". United Press International. 1992-09-17. Archived from the original on 2022-04-07. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  7. Kante, Justīne (2022). "Latvia and China: Entering the Post Optimism Period" (PDF). Riga Stradiņš University. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  8. "《中華民國108年外交年鑑》〈第三章 對外關係〉" (PDF). 中華民國外交部. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  9. "駐外館處". 中華民國外交部. Archived from the original on 2022-08-31. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  10. Wu, Yu-Shan (1995). "Taiwan in 1994: Managing a Critical Relationship". JSTOR (Asian Survey, Jan., 1995, Vol. 35, No. 1, A Survey of Asia in 1994: Part I (Jan., 1995), pp. 61-69). 35 (1): 61–69. doi:10.2307/2645131. JSTOR 2645131. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  11. "Curriculum Vitae: Andrew H.C. Lee" (PDF). Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
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