The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See (Chinese: 中華民國駐教廷大使館) is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of China (as known as Taiwan) accredited to the Holy See, one of its few de jure embassies in the world, and the only one remaining in Europe.[2] It also has responsibility for relations with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.[3]
| Legatio Rei Publicae Sinarum (Taiwan) ad Sanctam Sedem | |
Republic of China Embassy in Rome
| |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1942 (in the Vatican City) 1996 (in Rome) |
| Jurisdiction |  Holy See Sovereign Military Order of Malta |
| Headquarters | Rome, Italy 41°54′09″N 12°27′48″E / 41.9026°N 12.4634°E / 41.9026; 12.4634 |
| Agency executive |
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| Website | Embassy of the Republic of China (TAIWAN) to the Holy See |
Its counterpart in the Republic of China is the Apostolic Nunciature to ChinainTaipei.[4]
It is separate from the Taipei Representative Office in ItalyinRome, which functions as a de facto embassy in Italy.[5]
The Republic of China established relations with the Holy See in July 1942. After Xie Shoukang arrived in Rome on 26 January 1943, the legation was based in the Vatican City.[6] After the Second World War, the legation was moved to Rome. In June 1959, the Republic of China Legation was upgraded to an Embassy, and the Minister Plenipotentiary became Ambassador.[7]
In March 2005, the embassy was moved to Via della Conciliazione 4/D.[8]
| Name | Appointed | Terminated | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSIEH Shou-Kang | January 1943 | September 1946 | |
| Wu Ching-hsiung | September 1946 | July 1949 | |
| CHU Ying | July 1949 | October 1954 | as an agency |
| HSIEH Shou-Kang | October 1954 | June 1959 | then became an ambassador |
| Name | Appointed | Terminated | note |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSIEH Shou-Kang | June 1959 | September 1966 | |
| Shen Chang-huan | September 1966 | March 1969 | |
| Chen Chih-Mai | March 1969 | January 1978 | |
| CHOW Shu-Kai | January 1978 | August 1991 | |
| HOANG Sieou-Je | August 1991 | May 1993 | |
| Edward Tzu-Yu WU | May 1993 | August 1996 | |
| Raymond R.M. TAI | September 1996 | January 2004[9] | |
| Chou-seng TOU | January 2004 | 15 September 2008[10] | |
| Larry Wang | September 2008[11] | December 2015 | |
| Matthew S.M. LEE | December 2015[1] | current |