Romania–Taiwan relations

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Romanian–Taiwanese relations

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Romania–Taiwan relations refer to the bilateral relations between Romania and Taiwan (offcially the Republic of China, ROC). Romania does not maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, as it recognizes the People's Republic of China (PRC) under the One China policy. However, the two countries engage in unofficial exchanges through economic, cultural, and academic channels.[1][2]

History

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Romania and the Republic of China maintained formal diplomatic relations from 1939 to 1941. In 1949, the Communist government in Bucharest recognized the People's Republic of China following the Chinese Civil War. After the 1971 United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, Romania, then part of the Eastern Bloc, strengthened its ties with Beijing, effectively ending all official contact with Taipei.[3]

Following the 1989 Romanian Revolution and the fall of Communism, relations between Romania and Taiwan began to improve on an unofficial level. Taiwan's economic and democratic development attracted growing interest among Romanian academics, businesspeople, and politicians seeking to diversify global partnerships.[4]

In March 2024, a Romanian parliamentary delegation led by Cătălin-Daniel Fenechiu, chair of the Romania–Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, visited Taiwan to enhance cooperation in trade, technology, and governance.[5]

In August 2025, a Romanian parliamentary delegation led by Senator Cristian Ghinea visited Taiwan, calling for the strengthening of relations between Bucharest and Taipei. During the visit, the group met with government ministries and research institutions, including the Industrial Technology Research Institute and Hsinchu Science Park.[6]

Economic relations

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Although Romania and Taiwan lack formal diplomatic relations, bilateral trade and investment have grown gradually since the early 2000s. Taiwan has promoted economic and technological exchanges with Romania as part of its broader engagement with Central and Eastern Europe.[7]

In 2023, Taiwan's exports to Romania were $454 million, led by integrated circuits and broadcasting equipment, while Romania's exports to Taiwan reached $144 million, with main products including particle board, iron pipes, and rubber tires. Taiwan's total exports to Romania have grown significantly at an annualized rate of 11.8% over the last five years, whereas Romania's exports to Taiwan have grown at 3.98%.[8]

In June 2024, a Taiwan–Romania Business Forum was held in Taipei, organized by the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA). A six-member Romanian delegation led by Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania president Mihai Daraban visited Taiwan to explore cooperation in port logistics, smart home equipment, and construction engineering. The delegation also introduced the facilities and sustainability goals of the Port of Constanța—the largest port in the Black Sea region—and met with Taiwanese representatives from logistics, shipping, and technology sectors.[9]

In April 2025, the "Star Venture Programme"—a Taiwan-funded initiative to support Romanian startups—was officially launched in Bucharest. The €500,000 project, run by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and financed by the TaiwanBusiness–EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund, aims to help innovative Romanian companies in fields such as electric vehicle rentals, robotics, and energy access the global market through partnerships with Taiwanese accelerator programs like Garage+.[10]

Cultural and academic exchanges

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Cultural and educational links between Romania and Taiwan have also expanded in recent years. The Taipei Representative Office in Hungary is responsible for handling Taiwan's relations with Romania and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Several Romanian universities have signed cooperation agreements with Taiwanese institutions to promote student exchanges and Mandarin-language learning programs.[11]

Romanian students have participated in Taiwan's government scholarship programs, such as the Taiwan Scholarship and the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship, aimed at fostering academic exchange and cultural understanding.[12]

Representative offices

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Neither Romania nor Taiwan maintains an official embassy in each other's territory. Taiwan's relations with Romania are managed by the Taipei Representative Office in Hungary, while Romania has no equivalent office in Taipei.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Chen, Kelvin (30 October 2024). "Taiwan seeks to strengthen trade relations with Romania". Taiwan News. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  2. ^ Leonte, Andreea (13 August 2024). "Romania's Strategic Puzzle: Navigating Taiwan Relations Amid Chinese Pressure". chinaobservers.eu. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  3. ^ Westad, Odd Arne (2005). The Global Cold War: Third World Interventions and the Making of Our Times. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521703147.
  4. ^ "Can Taiwan and Central Europe Build Lasting Economic Ties?". TaiwanPlus. 30 September 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  5. ^ "MOFA welcomes visit by Romania parliamentary delegation". Taiwan Today. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  6. ^ Strong, Matthew (16 August 2025). "Taiwan welcomes parliamentary delegation from Romania". Taiwan News. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  7. ^ Chiang, Gahon (2 September 2025). "Romania a vital partner for Taiwan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Romania's exports to Chinese Taipei". Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Taiwan-Romania Business Forum Held on June 5". Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Taiwan-funded project to help Romanian startups officially launched". Overseas Community Affairs Council. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  11. ^ Baron, James (10 January 2024). "The Romanians Pushing for Enhanced Ties with Taiwan". globaltaiwan.org. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  12. ^ "Taiwan-Europe Connectivity Scholarship". Taipei Representative Office, Bratislava. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Taipei Representative Office in Hungary". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Retrieved 30 October 2025.