Republic of China–Venezuelan relations

Republic of China-Venezuela relations have almost been nonexistent since Venezuela recognized the People's Republic of China in 1974, although unofficial relations have been preserved through a Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Caracas. In the 2000s, increasing partnership between the government of the Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez and People's Republic of China has led to a more overt rejection of the Republic of China's legitimacy by Venezuela.

History

Relations between the Republic of China and Venezuela began on August 1944 when an office belonged to ROC was established in Caracas. On September 1949, José Manuel Ferrer who was in charge of the Venezuelan office in China moved with the government of the ROC to Taipei when Chiang Kai-shek lost the control of mainland China [Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Venezuela: [http://www.roc-taiwan.org.ve/about.htm Relaciones entre la República de China y la República de Venezuela] Accessed 18 December 2007 es icon] .

José Gil Borges was appointed to the position of ambassador of Venezuela in Taiwan on February 1966. On 1st July 1966 the previous ROC office in Caracas was promoted to the category of embassy. [ "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Venezuela" [http://www.roc-taiwan.org.ve/about.htm Relaciones entre la República de China y la República de Venezuela] Accessed 18 December 2007 es icon]

Venezuela broke diplomatic relations with the ROC in favor of the People’s Republic of China on 28 June 1974. Since then unofficial relations between the two countries have been managed through a Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Caracas. [ "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Venezuela" [http://www.roc-taiwan.org.ve/about.htm Relaciones entre la República de China y la República de Venezuela] Accessed 18 December 2007 es icon]

In the past some important Venezuelans have visited Taiwan such as:
* Rafael Caldera: a former President of Venezuela: January 1992.
* Werner Corrales: a former Minister of development: October 1995.
* Ramón Germán Monzón Salas: a former President of the foreign policy commission of the Venezuelan congress: January 1996.
* Juan José Caldera: a former senator of the Venezuelan congress: April 1997.
* Paciano Padrón: a former President of the foreign policy commission of the Venezuelan congress: January 1998.

ROC-Venezuela relations during Chávez's presidency

Visa renewal

On March 2007, Venezuela repealed a 90-day visa exemption for ROC passport holders ["El Universal" [http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/07/19/en_pol_art_taiwan-strives-to-ke_19A901775.shtml Taiwan strives to keep mission in Venezuela] (19 July 2007). Accessed 18 December 2007.] . Since then visas for ROC citizens have been required.

In June the Venezuelan government decided not to renew visas for five members of ROC commercial representation in Caracas. [ "International Herald Tribune" [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/18/asia/AS-GEN-Taiwan-Venezuela.php Report: Taiwanese diplomats may have to leave Venezuela] (18 July 2007). Accessed 19 December 2007] [ "El Universal" [http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/07/18/en_pol_art_taiwanese-diplomats_18A901361.shtml Taiwanese diplomats to leave Venezuela] (18 July 2007). Accessed 18 December 2007] [ "El Universal" [http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/07/19/en_pol_art_taiwan-strives-to-ke_19A901775.shtml Taiwan strives to keep mission in Venezuela] (19 July 2007). Accessed 18 December 2007] In July the spokesman for the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Chien-yeh, said the ROC held conversations with the Venezuelan government to reach an agreement in order to avoid the closure of the ROC commercial representation. [ "El Universal" [http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/07/19/en_pol_art_taiwan-strives-to-ke_19A901775.shtml Taiwan strives to keep mission in Venezuela] (19 July 2007). Accessed 18 December 2007]

In the case of a shutting down of the ROC office those Venezuelans who want to travel to Taiwan have to ask for visas in other countries such as Colombia or Panama and people from Taiwan who want to visit Venezuela have to ask a visa in other countries such as the Venezuela consulate in Hong Kong. [ "El Universal" [http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/07/30/pol_art_venezolanos-resident_380749.shtml Venezolanos residentes en Taiwán temerosos ante rupturas de lazos] (30 July 2007). Accessed 19 December 2007es icon]

CPC Corporation, Taiwan

In 2007 Venezuela nationalized all foreign-owned oil fields and took over oil fields belonged to companies which refused to sign agreements of a joint venture with PDVSA.

In July of that year the ROC state-run oil firm Chinese Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said the government of Venezuela had asked the firm to give up the 7.5 percent shares CPC holds on two oil fields the firm has in the South American country. [ "International Herald Tribune" [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/18/asia/AS-GEN-Taiwan-Venezuela.php Report: Taiwanese diplomats may have to leave Venezuela] (18 July 2007). Accessed 19 December 2007] The president of the CPC, Chen Pao-lang, said CPC will hold contacts with the Venezuelan government in order to defend their oil exploration rights on the two oil fields. Besides Chen said if no progress is made, CPC do not rule out a possible international arbitration. [ "Monsters and Critics" [http://news.monstersandcritics.com/energywatch/oilandgas/news/article_1331118.php/Taiwan_to_negotiate_with_Venezuela_over_oil_exploration Taiwan to negotiate with Venezuela over oil exploration] (17 July 2007). Accessed 18 December 2007]

Trade

In 2005 Venezuela was the eighth most important largest trading partner in Latin America for Taiwan. Taiwan exports to Venezuela parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of headings, bailers machinery, electrical machinery and equipment and parts, sound recorders, television imagers, reproducers, vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, plastics and plastics articles, rubber and rubber articles, man-made filaments, iron and steel, cotton, furniture, optical instruments and toys. [ "Taiwanese Bureau of Foreign Trade" [http://wwwdoc.trade.gov.tw/BOFT/web/report_detail.jsp?data_base_id=DB011&category_id=CAT3307&report_id=130132 Taiwan-Venezuela Bilateral Trade Relations in 2006] Accessed 18 December 2007]

On the other hand Venezuela exports to Taiwan organic chemicals, raw hides and skins, aluminum and aluminum articles, iron and steel, plastics and plastic articles, copper and copper articles, inorganic chemicals, optical instrument, rubber and articles. [ "Taiwanese Bureau of Foreign Trade" [http://wwwdoc.trade.gov.tw/BOFT/web/report_detail.jsp?data_base_id=DB011&category_id=CAT3307&report_id=130132 Taiwan-Venezuela Bilateral Trade Relations in 2006] Accessed 18 December 2007]

Migration

In 2007 around 400 people from Taiwan lived in Venezuela. Many of them were owners of companies that manufacture plastics, ceramics, textiles, glass, and marketing finished products. [ "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Venezuela" [http://www.roc-taiwan.org.ve/press/20020515/2002051502.html Taiwan-Venezuela Trade Tends To Fade Away] Accessed 18 December 2007]

At the end of July 2007 more than 100 pilots, a baseball player and a student from Venezuela were living in Taiwan. The pilots have been working in Taiwan after the bankruptcy of some Venezuelan airlines such as Viasa and Avensa ["El Universal" [http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2007/07/30/pol_art_venezolanos-resident_380749.shtml Venezolanos residentes en Taiwán temerosos ante rupturas de lazos] (30 July 2007). Accessed 19 December 2007es icon] .

Sources