Greece–Taiwan relations

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Greek–Taiwanese relations
Map indicating locations of Greece and Taiwan

Greece
Taiwan

Greece–Taiwan relations refer to the relations between Greece (formally the Hellenic Republic) and Taiwan (formally the Republic of China).

Greece and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic relations: Greece recognizes only the People's Republic of China under its One China policy. Nevertheless, relations are conducted at the non-diplomatic level via representative offices that serve many functions similar to those of embassies. Although there are no official diplomatic ties, Greece and Taiwan have developed cooperative links in trade, culture, education, consular matters, and technical affairs.[1]

History

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In the early years of the Cold War, Greece, like most other Western European countries, recognized the ROC as being the legitimate governing authority of China.[2]

Greece supported the PRC's accession to the United Nations in 1971, voting in favor of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI), which transferred China's UN seat from Taipei to Beijing.[3] In June 1972, in the aftermath of Richard Nixon's visit to Beijing and the People's Republic of China's admission to the United Nations, Greece switched recognition to the People's Republic, cutting off relations with Taiwan.[4]

Representative offices

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Main article: Taipei Representative Office in Greece

On 6 January 1973, Taiwan established the Far East Trade Center in Athens, Greece. On 28 December 1990, it was renamed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Greece, which has the function of a de facto embassy. On 11 April 2003, it was renamed the Taipei Representative Office in Greece, within the consular affairs and economic group.[5] It provides consular services, and promotes trade, cultural, educational, and research cooperation.

Economic relations

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Greece conducts trade with Taiwan under the framework of technical and economic cooperation. Taiwan exports goods to Greece, and Greece imports certain goods from Taiwan. According to Greek import statistics, in 2024, Greece imported goods from Taiwan worth approximately €146.7 million.[6]

Cultural and educational exchanges

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In May 2022, representatives from Taiwan's Taipei Representative Office in Greece met with the Athens University of Economics and Business to discuss student exchanges, cooperation under Erasmus+ mobility programs, and potential Memoranda of Understanding between Greek and Taiwanese higher education institutions.[7]

Humanitarian cooperation

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There are no widely reported publicized major humanitarian aid programs specifically between Greece and Taiwan beyond standard bilateral cultural and technical cooperation, though consular services are carried out by Taiwan's representative office.

Agreements

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Some of the non-diplomatic agreements or understandings include cooperation in trade, maritime matters, culture, and health on a technical level.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Liaropoulos, Andreas. "THE EUROPEAN DIMENSION OF GREEK-TAIWANESE RELATIONS: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT" (PDF). Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS). Research Institute for European and American Studies: 8.
  2. ^ "Greece / Chinese Taipei ‒ Bilateral Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hellenic Republic. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  3. ^ "General Assembly, 26th session : 1976th plenary meeting, Monday, 25 October 1971, New York (A/PV.1976)". United Nations Digital Library. 1974. p. 41. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  4. ^ D. Chourchoulis, Greece and the People's Republic of China in the Cold War, 1972 – 1989 Archived 2021-06-07 at the Wayback Machine in Europe and China in the Cold War: Exchanges Beyond the Bloc Logic and the Sino-Soviet Split, Brill, 2019, Edited by Janick Marina Schaufelbuehl, Marco Wyss and Valeria Zanier
  5. ^ "《中華民國103年外交年鑑》". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Greece Imports: Rest of the World: Taiwan – Year to Date (Dec 2024)". Hellenic Statistical Authority via CEIC. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  7. ^ "Reception of Taiwan representatives at the Athens University of Economics and Business". Athens University of Economics & Business. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Greece / Chinese Taipei ‒ Bilateral Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hellenic Republic. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
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