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Taiwanese-Venezuelan relations
Taiwan-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. Recently increasing partnership between the government of the Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and mainland 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, Jose Manuel Ferrer who was in charge of the Venezuelan office in the Republic of China moved with the government of the ROC to Taiwan when Chiang Kai-shek lost the control of mainland China.
Jose Gil Borges was appointed to the position of ambassador of Venezuela in Taiwan on February 1966. On 1st July 1966 the previous Taiwanese office in Caracas was promoted to the category of embassy. Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Venezuela Relaciones entre la Republica de China y la Republica de Venezuela Accessed 18 December 2007
Venezuela broke diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of the Peoples 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 Relaciones entre la Republica de China y la Republica de Venezuela Accessed 18 December 2007
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.
Ramon German Monzon Salas: a former President of the foreign policy commission of the Venezuelan congress: January 1996.
Juan Jose Caldera: a former senator of the Venezuelan congress: April 1997.
Paciano Padron: a former President of the foreign policy commission of the Venezuelan congress: January 1998.
Taiwan- Venezuela relations during Chavezs presidency
No visas renewal for members of the Taiwanese mission in Caracas
On March 2007, Venezuela repealed a 90-day visa exemption for Taiwanese touristsEl Universal Taiwan strives to keep mission in Venezuela (19 July 2007). Accessed 18 December 2007.. Since then visas for citizens from Taiwan have been required.
In June the Venezuelan government decided not to renew visas for five members of Taiwanese commercial representation in Caracas.
International Herald Tribune Report: Taiwanese diplomats may have to leave Venezuela (18 July 2007). Accessed 19 December 2007 El Universal Taiwanese diplomats to leave Venezuela (18 July 2007). Accessed 18 December 2007 El Universal Taiwan strives to keep mission in Venezuela (19 July 2007). Accessed 18 December 2007In July the spokesman for the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Chien-yeh, said Taiwan held conversations with the Venezuelan government to reach an agreement in order to avoid the closure of the Taiwanese commercial representation.
El Universal Taiwan strives to keep mission in Venezuela (19 July 2007). Accessed 18 December 2007In the case of a shutting down of the Taiwanese 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 of Hong Kong. El Universal Venezolanos residentes en Taiwan temerosos ante rupturas de lazos (30 July 2007). Accessed 19 December 2007
Government of Venezuela asked CPC to leave the country
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 Taiwanese 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 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 Taiwan to negotiate with Venezuela over oil exploration (17 July 2007). Accessed 18 December 2007Trade
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 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 Taiwan-Venezuela Bilateral Trade Relations in 2006 Accessed 18 December 2007
Migration
400 people from Taiwan live in Venezuela. Many of them are owners of companies that manufacture plastics, ceramics, textiles, glass, and marketing finished products. Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Venezuela 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 AvensaEl Universal Venezolanos residentes en Taiwan temerosos ante rupturas de lazos (30 July 2007). Accessed 19 December 2007.
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Taiwanese-Venezuelan relations
