Belarus–Taiwan relations

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Not to be confused with Belarus–China relations.
Belarus–Taiwan relations

Belarus
Taiwan
Diplomatic mission
NoneNone
Envoy
NoneNone

Belarus–Taiwan relations (Chinese: 中華民國—白俄羅斯關係;Belarusian: Беларуска-тайванскія адносіны; Russian: Белорусско-тайваньские отношения) are bilateral relations between Belarus and Taiwan. The Taiwanese government once established a diplomatic mission in Minsk, but closed it in 2006. Belarusian affairs are processed through the Representative Office in Moscow.[1][2]

Diplomatic relations

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See also: Foreign relations of Taiwan and Foreign relations of Belarus
Voting record of the UN during Resolution 2758 in 1971, which removed the membership of the Republic of China in exchange for the admission of the People's Republic of China. Soviet Belarus voted in favor of this resolution.

In 1992, Mayor of Minsk Alexander Gerasimenko visited Taiwan and met with former Taiwanese First Lady Chiang Fang-liang, who is of Belarusian descent.[3]

Belarus played an important role in relations between Taiwan and the Commonwealth of Independent States. In January 1996, Taiwan and Belarus signed an agreement to co-operate on trade, science and technology, and culture. Then on 1 July, Taiwan established a Representative Office in Minsk, called the "Taipei Economic and Trade Mission in Minsk" (Chinese: 駐明斯克台北經濟貿易代表團).[4][5] However, due to practical diplomatic considerations and inadequate functions, the office closed in January 2006.[6] Officials from the Taiwanese foreign ministry later revealed that this decision was based on Belarus's opposition to Taiwan's entry into the United Nations and World Health Organization, along with rejecting the visas of Taiwanese officials.[7]

In November 1999, representatives from the Belarusian parliament visited Taiwan, the first time they have done so.[4]

In August 2001, the head of the Belarusian finance ministry visited Taiwan, and accepted a donation of $20,000 USD from Taiwan to handle the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster.[8]

Between 2002 and 2005, various Belarusian figures visited Taiwan, including Prime Minister Vladimir Yermoshin, head of Belarus Red Cross Romanovsky, and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Sergei Gaidukevich.[9][10][11]

On 10 May 2015, Chinese president Xi Jinping visited Minsk, and the two sides signed a joint declaration where Belarus agrees to abide by the One China principle, opposes Taiwanese entry into international organizations for sovereign states, and agrees to not sell weaponry to Taiwan. In response, the Taiwanese foreign ministry criticized this decision, saying that it "demonstrates that Belarus signed a declaration against international reality and that harms the interests of the ROC in order to placate mainland China".[12] On 11 May, the Mainland Affairs Council released a statement reiterating the fact that the Republic of China is a sovereign nation, and called on China and the international community to face the reality of two Chinas.[13] The Taiwanese ambassador to Belarus also denied claims that Belarus and Taiwan had any arms trade.[12]

On 6 May 2022, the Taiwanese foreign ministry strongly condemned Belarus for its involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and announced its participation in International sanctions against Belarus.[14] This involves an export control system, where high-tech products may not be exported to Belarus or Russia without approval from the International Trade Administration or a delegated authority.[15][16][17]

Trade relations

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Due to close Belarus–China relations, officials between Taiwan and Belarus are not enthusiastic about high-level exchanges, which also stunted economic relations between the two. Additionally, Belarus and Taiwan are both geographically and culturally distant, making business exchanges more difficult.[16]

Recent bilateral trade volume (in USD)[18]
Year Trade volume Taiwan→Belarus Belarus→Taiwan
Amount Annual change Ranking Amount Annual change Ranking Amount Annual change Ranking
2017 55,625,205 Increase33.4% 101 17,723,978 Increase22.7% 112 37,901,227 Increase39.1% 86
2018 31,875,437 Decrease42.7% 115 20,791,862 Increase17.3% 110 11,083,575 Decrease70.8% 110
2019 43,266,125 Increase35.7% 107 21,403,553 Increase2.9% 106 21,862,572 Increase97.3% 96
2020 50,740,029 Increase17.3% 101 20,018,170 Decrease6.5% 108 30,721,859 Increase40.5% 94
2021 28,622,512 Decrease43.6% 118 19,436,776 Decrease2.9% 107 9,185,736 Decrease70.1% 112
2022 44,492,212 Increase55.4% 113 11,149,519 Decrease42.6% 121 33,342,693 Increase263.0% 96
2023 39,425,475 Decrease11.4% 109 17,534,955 Increase57.3% 113 21,890,520 Decrease34.3% 98
2024 54,835,664 Increase39.1% 100 13,528,530 Decrease22.8% 118 41,307,134 Increase88.7% 85

Taiwan → Belarus main trade products: Specific purpose machine parts; machines and tools with special functions; synthetic fiber yarns; machine tools, presses for metal or carbide processing; optical discs, magnetic tapes, solid-state storage, non-volatile memory, smart cards and other media for recording or audio recording; steel screws, bolts, nuts, spiral hooks, automotive screws, rivets, cross pins, R-pins, washers and similar articles; automotive parts and accessories; printing presses, offset printing cylinders and other printing components, as well as printers, copiers and fax machines; vehicle lights or signaling equipment for bicycles or motor vehicles; windshield wipers; defrosters or defoggers; interchangeable tools powered or unpowered hand tools or machine tools.[19]

Belarus → Taiwan main trade products: Minerals or chemical fertilizers; parts for specific goods; integrated circuits; glass fiber and its products; hand saws, various saw blades; oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers and other instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking electrical quantities; instruments and apparatus for measuring or detecting X-rays, alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, cosmic rays or other ionizing radiation; compound optical microscopes, including those for photomicrography or microscopy; fiberboard made of wood or other wood fibers; semiconductor devices, photosensitive semiconductor devices, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), pre-assembled piezoelectric crystals; mattress supports, bedding and similar furniture, etc.[19]

Investments

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In October 2012, the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA) invited Belarusian entrepreneurs from Minsk to an academic conference.[20]

In September 2014, the leadership of the Belarusian state-owned company "Svetlogorsk"（Belarusian: СветлогорскХимволокно）visited Taiwan, where they met with the Taiwan Textile Research Institute to discuss technical collaboration. In November, a similar meeting between the two was held in Belarus.[20]

In June 2018, a Belarusian trade delegation under the Belarusian foreign ministry met with the Director of the National Center for Marketing and Price Research (NCMPS), which is responsible for trade promotion. The meeting handled matters relating to Belarus's accession to the World Trade Organization and also discussed business opportunities in Belarus and the rest of Central and Eastern Europe.[20]

According to Taiwanese ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwanese businesses had 12 investment projects in Belarus amounting to $29.43 million USD and Belarusian businesses had 139 investment projects in Taiwan amounting to US$13.31 million as of 2021.[20] However, there are no organizations representing Taiwanese businesses or overseas Taiwanese in Belarus, nor are there any Taiwanese financial services in the country.[21]

Cultural relations

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The president of the Belarusian Film Appreciation Association Savchik visited Taiwan in 2001–2002 to participate in the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and related activities.[8][9]

The president of Belarusian State University Alyaksandr Kazulin once visited Taiwan, and the head of National Museum of History Huang Kuang-nan once visited Belarus.[22] In May 1999, president of Belarusian State University Astapenko visited Taiwan to participate in an event organized by the Youth Development Administration.[4]

In May 2003, the Chinese embassy in Belarus [zh] met with the Belarusian foreign ministry, where it requested that Belarus uphold the One China principle and forbid Taiwan from participating in the 14th International Biology Olympiad with a Taiwanese flag.[23]

Bilateral agreements

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Bilateral agreements between Belarus and Taiwan
Date Agreement Notes
January 1996 《有關經濟貿易、科學技術及文化合作暨設立經濟貿易代表團議定書》
Protocol on Economic and Trade, Scientific and Technological and Cultural Cooperation and the Establishment of an Economic and Trade Delegation		 [5]
4 March 1998 《中華民國全國商業總會與白俄羅斯工商總會合作協議》
Cooperation Agreement between the National Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China and the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry		 [a]
2012 《中華民國國際經濟合作協會與白俄羅斯企業家聯盟協會合作備忘錄》
Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of China International Economic Cooperation Association and the Belarusian Businessmen Union Association 		[b]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Signed in Taipei between Wang You-theng (head of General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China [zh]) and his Belarusian counterpart to promote economic trade collaboration.[24]
  2. ^ The Republic of China International Economic Cooperation Association invited Vladimir Karyagin, President of the Belarusian Businessmen's Union Association, to visit Taiwan. During the visit, they jointly held a "Belarusian Economic and Trade Opportunities Seminar" and signed a memorandum of understanding.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "駐館位置及聯絡方式". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 6 November 2020.
  2. ^ "代表處簡介". 中華民國駐外單位聯合網站. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016.
  3. ^ 唐佩君 (2016-02-13). "幫蔣方良圓夢 台藝文團體將赴俄演出". Central News Agency (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2024-04-30 – via Yahoo!新闻.
  4. ^ a b c "《中華民國88年外交年鑑》〈第三章 中外關係〉". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 13 July 2018.
  5. ^ a b 公眾外交協調會 (5 July 1996). "中華民國政府與白俄羅斯共和國政府有關經濟貿易、科學技術及文化合作暨設立經濟貿易代表團議定書". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 22 November 2020.
  6. ^ 公眾外交協調會 (3 January 2006). "外交部宣布即日起關閉我駐白俄羅斯代表處". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 5 November 2020.
  7. ^ 李佳霏 (2006-01-03). "關閉駐白俄羅斯代表處 陳唐山：戰略考量". 中央社. 大紀元. Archived from the original on 2020-11-21. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  8. ^ a b "《中華民國90年外交年鑑》〈第三章 中外關係〉". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 14 February 2017.
  9. ^ a b "《中華民國91年外交年鑑》〈第三章 中外關係〉". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 13 July 2018.
  10. ^ "《中華民國93年外交年鑑》〈第三章 中外關係〉". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 14 July 2018.
  11. ^ "《中華民國94年外交年鑑》〈第三章 中外關係〉". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 13 September 2018.
  12. ^ a b "罕見 陸、白俄聯合聲明拒對台軍售". World Journal. 2015-05-12. Archived from the original on 2016-10-22. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  13. ^ "【更新】白俄羅斯反台灣主權　外交部：討好大陸". 2015-05-11. Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  14. ^ 亞西及非洲司 (6 May 2022). "有關我國宣布對白俄羅斯進行出口管制事，外交部說明如下：". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 6 May 2022.
  15. ^ "貿易法". 全國法規資料庫. 25 December 2019. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024.
  16. ^ a b c "與我國經貿關係". Taiwan External Trade Development Council. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025.
  17. ^ "輸往俄羅斯及白俄羅斯高科技貨品清單". 經濟部國際貿易署.
  18. ^ "中華民國進出口貿易統計". International Trade Administration (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 20 April 2025.
  19. ^ a b "近二年我國對當地出口主要產品". 中華民國對外貿易發展協會. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025.
  20. ^ a b c d 雙二組歐洲二科 (10 July 2023). "白俄羅斯(Belarus)經貿檔" (PDF). 經濟部國際貿易署. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 January 2025.
  21. ^ "國家基本資料表". 中華民國對外貿易發展協會. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025.
  22. ^ "《中華民國86年外交年鑑》〈第三章 中外關係〉". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 17 May 2018.
  23. ^ 公眾外交協調會 (24 November 2003). "中國大陸阻撓我國際空間事例（92年7月至9月事例）". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 13 January 2018.
  24. ^ "《中華民國87年外交年鑑》〈第三章 中外關係〉". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on 13 February 2017.