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Holy See–Taiwan relations

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This article is about the relations with the Republic of China. For the relations with the People's Republic of China, see China–Holy See relations.
Sino–Holy See relations
Map indicating locations of Taiwan and Holy See

Taiwan
Holy See
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of China to the Holy SeeApostolic Nunciature to China
Envoy
Ambassador Matthew S. M. LeeChargé d'affaires Pavol Talapka

Relations between the Holy See and the Republic of China (ROC, today commonly known as Taiwan) were established on a non-diplomatic level in 1922 and at a diplomatic level in 1942. The Holy See maintains its apostolic nunciature in Taipei and the ROC maintains an embassy at the Holy See. This is a policy of de facto but not explicit recognition: the Holy See describes itself as maintaining its relationship with China, it does not recognize the ROC as such, and it does not recognize Taiwan as an autonomous political entity.

The bilateral relationship is particularly important to the ROC, as its embassy to the Holy See is Taiwan's only remaining embassy in Europe.

Framework

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The Holy See conducts diplomatic relations with the ROC, with its apostolic nunciature in Taipei and the ROC embassy's embassy at the Holy See.[1]: 181  This is a policy of de facto but not explicit recognition: the Holy See describes itself as maintaining its relationship with China, it does not recognize the ROC as such, and it does not recognize Taiwan as an autonomous political entity.[1]: 181 

The Holy See maintains negotiations with the PRC for recognition however the Holy See has given the ROC assurances that any negotiations with the PRC will not come at the expense of their relations with the ROC.[2] The diplomatic relationship is significant from the perspective of the ROC because its embassy to the Holy See is its only remaining embassy in Europe.[1]: 181 

History

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Before ROC retreat to Taiwan

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Agreement to establish diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Republic of China was reached in 1917. However, this move was blocked by France, which by the treaties imposed on China at the end of the Second Opium War held a "protectorate" over the Catholic missions in the country.[3][4][5]

In 1922, Archbishop Celso Benigno Luigi Costantini was appointed to head an Apostolic Delegation in the country.[3][4] Though Archbishop Costantini did not have diplomatic status, the Chinese government gave him the same honours as those granted to the diplomatic corps accredited to China at the funeral of Sun Yat-sen in 1925.[6] Archbishop Costantini left China in 1933 and was succeeded by Archbishop Mario Zanin, who likewise was given all the honours reserved for Ministers Plenipotentiary.[7]

After the Japan succeeded in its invasion of Manchuria and its 1932 establishment of its Manchukuo puppet state, the Vatican retained its presence in the occupied region.[1]: 182–183  This initially resulted in tension between the ROC and Vatican, but the Vatican ultimately satisfied the ROC that it needed to maintain its presence in the occupied region for the benefit of Catholics there and that the Vatican's presence did not imply an acceptance of the Manchukuo state.[1]: 182–183 

Diplomatic relations were finally established on 23 October 1942[8] and, with the presentation by Archbishop Antonio Riberi of his letter of credence to the President in 1946, the Holy See's Apostolic Delegation in China gained diplomatic status.[9][10]

In summer 1949, as the Chinese Civil War neared its end, the Communist forces captured the Nationalist capital, Nanjing.[1]: 183  The Nationalist government retreated to Guangzhou.[1]: 183  Although most of the diplomatic corps in Nanjing also went to Guangzhou, the nuncio remained in Nanjing.: 183  Pius XII instructed all Chinese bishops to remain in place.[1]: 183 

In 1950, the Holy See stated that participation in Communist-related organizations would result in excommunication.[11]: 33  The People's Republic of China broke off diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 1951.[11]: 33  The Communist Party framed these actions in terms of Chinese Catholics reclaiming their church in the context of broader opposition to Western imperialism.[11]: 33 

ROC on Taiwan

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In the following year, the Holy See, having been rejected by the Beijing government, resumed relations with the previous (Nationalist) government, which after its defeat on the mainland had moved to Taipei and continued to claim to represent all of China under the name of "Republic of China", as before.[12]

Embassy of Vatican, 1964

The United Nations continued to recognize the Taipei-based government as that of China until 25 October 1971.[1]: 188  On that date, the seat of charter member of the United Nations and permanent member of the Security Council, China, passed to the Beijing government (PRC). The Holy See downgraded its diplomatic relationship with the ROC.[1]: 188  The nuncio to China, Edward Cassidy, was in 1972 named nuncio to Bangladesh and moved from Taipei to Dhaka (he continued to hold both nuncio posts simultaneously).[1]: 188  Cassidy's move left a chargé d'affaires heading the Holy See's embassy in Taipei.[1]: 188  Cassidy left office in 1979 and the Holy See has not named a new nuncio to China; its embassy in Taipei continues to be headed by a chargé d'affaires.[1]: 188 

The Taipei government has made no change in the status of the embassy to the Holy See that it maintains in Rome. Before the constitutional amendments and democratization of Taiwan in 1991, the Republic of China had contested sovereignty in the former Qing dynasty territories of Mainland China, Outer Mongolia, etc.

In Spring 2005, President Chen Shui-bian attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II.[1]: 189  According to academic Peter Moody, Chen apparently attended on his own initiative, not the Vatican's invitation.[1]: 189  The PRC protested Chen's attendance, describing it as "an opportunity to engage in secessionist activity".[1]: 189 

In March 2013, President Ma Ying-jeou attended the inauguration of Pope Francis.[1]: 189  The PRC protested and, according to academic Peter Moody, apparently boycotted the event as a result.[1]: 189  The Vatican stated that no specific invitations had been sent to any country and that "No one is privileged, no one is refused, everyone is welcome if they say they are coming".[1]: 189 

No pope has ever visited the areas controlled by the ROC.[13] President Tsai Ing-wen unsuccessfully invited Pope Francis to visit several times.[13]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Moody, Peter (2024). "The Vatican and Taiwan: An Anomalous Diplomatic Relationship". In Zhao, Suisheng (ed.). The Taiwan Question in Xi Jinping's Era: Beijing's Evolving Taiwan Policy and Taiwan's Internal and External Dynamics. London and New York: Routledge. ISBN 9781032861661.
  2. ^ "Taiwan says it has Vatican assurances on China accord". www.reuters.com. Reuters. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b Leung, Beatrice (1992). Sino-Vatican relations : problems in conflicting authority, 1976-1986. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-38173-8. OCLC 21907931.
  4. ^ a b Nicolas Standaert, R. G. Tiedemann, Handbook of Christianity in China, vol. 2 (BRILL 2009 ISBN 9789004114302), pp. 564–565
  5. ^ Védrenne (2012), p. 32
  6. ^ Landry Védrenne, "The Diplomatic Relations between the Holy See and the Republic of China from 1942 to 2012: History, Challenges, and Perspectives" (National Chengchi University, 2012), p. 36
  7. ^ "China - from the Tablet Archive". Archived from the original on 2015-09-22. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  8. ^ "Thanksgiving: 70th Anniv of Diplomatic Ties".
  9. ^ Leung (1992), p. 44
  10. ^ Védrenne (2012), p. 42
  11. ^ a b c Yeh, Alice (2023-06-01). "Social Mobility, Migratory Vocations, and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association". China Perspectives (133): 31–41. doi:10.4000/chinaperspectives.15216. ISSN 2070-3449. S2CID 259562815.
  12. ^ China Church Quarterly, Fall 2008[usurped]
  13. ^ a b "Taiwan welcomes pope as he takes trip to Asia Pacific - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
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