Colombia–Taiwan relations

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Colombian–Taiwanese relations
Map indicating locations of Colombia and Taiwan

Colombia
Taiwan
Diplomatic mission
Taipei Commercial Office in Bogotá, Colombia
Envoy
Verónica Chih Yun Kuei[1]

Colombia–Taiwan relations refers to the bilateral relations between Colombia (formally the Republic of Colombia) and Taiwan (formally the Republic of China, ROC). Colombia does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent, diplomatic partner, following its recognition of the People's Republic of China in 1980, but maintains a Taipei Commercial Office in Bogotá and engages in trade, technical cooperation, and agreements in standards, certification, and commerce.

History

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Colombia recognized Taiwan (ROC) as the legitimate representative of China until 1980. In February of that year, under President Julio César Turbay Ayala, Colombia formally established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), cutting formal recognition of the ROC.[2][3]

Representative offices and trade missions

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Main article: Taipei Commercial Office in Bogotá, Colombia

Despite lack of formal diplomatic relations, informal and functional ties have continued via trade, commerce offices, and technical agreements.

The Taipei Commercial Office in Bogotá, Colombia operates as Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Colombia, given the absence of formal diplomatic recognition. The Office handles consular affairs, trade promotion, technical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and supports business liaison activities between Colombian and Taiwanese entities.[4]

In 1993, a Colombian trade office was opened in Taipei but later closed in 2002.[5]

Trade and economic cooperation

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Several concrete cooperative and trade-promotion activities have been recently documented:

  • On 4 July 2025, Taiwan’s Testing and Certification Center (ETC) and Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification, signed an agreement (via notes exchange) to facilitate international trade between the two through concordance in conformity assessment: audits, inspections, sampling, and technical services. The agreement was coordinated by the Taipei Commercial Office in Bogotá.[6]
  • The Taiwan branch of Taiwan External Trade Development Council organized a business matchmaking event in Bogotá (28 August 2025) involving 28 Taiwanese firms across sectors including machinery, auto parts, electronics, food, and retail solutions. The goal was to deepen commercial linkages and expand export opportunities.[7]
  • According to Colombia’s export profile, in 2021 Colombia exported to Taiwan about US$87 million in FOB value, covering 461,776 tonnes of goods. Of these, 43% by value (≈ US$37 million) and 22,088 tonnes were non-mineral or non-energy products.[8]

Political posture and recognition policy

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Colombia adheres to the One China policy and officially recognizes the People’s Republic of China. [9] Public and government statements reaffirm that Colombia does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state and does not maintain diplomatic relations with the ROC. [10]

Recent developments

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In 2025, Taiwan and Colombia elevated technical cooperation by signing the aforementioned ICONTEC-ETC conformity assessment agreement to reduce trade barriers and improve mutual standardization.[6]

The business matching event in Bogotá in August 2025 underscores Taiwan’s active trade diplomacy in Latin America and signals, according to Colombian trade sources and Taiwan’s mission in Bogotá, growth in demand for Taiwanese machinery, electronic parts, food products, and retail-technology solutions.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Republic of Colombia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Republic of China) in (in Chinese)
  2. ^ Li Keqiang and President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia Jointly Attend Seminar on China-Latin America People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People's Republic of China, May 24, 2015
  3. ^ "Colombia y China Popular establecen relaciones". El Tiempo (in Spanish). Bogotá: Casa Editorial El Tiempo. 9 February 1980. pp. 8A. ISSN 0121-9987. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  4. ^ "ROC Embassies and Missions Abroad ‐ Colombia". Bureau of Consular Affairs (Taiwan). Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  5. ^ Strong, Matthew (25 September 2025). "Visiting lawmakers hope Colombia can open mission in Taiwan". Taiwan News. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Acuerdo Estratégico para impulsar el Comercio Entre Taiwán y Colombia" (in Spanish). Office of the Commercial Office of Taipei in Colombia / MOFA, ROC. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Rueda de Negocios Taiwán-Colombia 2025 se llevará a cabo el 28 de agosto en Hotel Sonesta" (in Spanish). Office Commercial de Taipéi en Colombia. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Perfil logístico de exportación a Taiwán". ProColombia. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Petro Reminds Officials: Colombia Recognizes China, Not Taiwan". 17 April 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Colombia recognizes China, not Taiwan, official letter to ministries (2023)". Retrieved 12 September 2025.
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