Canadian Trade Office in Taipei

The Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT; French: Bureau commercial du Canada à Taipei; Chinese: 加拿大駐臺北貿易辦事處; pinyin: Jiānádà Zhù Táiběi Màoyì Bànshì Chù; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ka-ná-tāi chù Tâi-pak Bō͘-e̍k Pān-sū-chhù) is Canada's trade office in Taiwan, which functions as a de facto embassy in the absence of diplomatic relations. The current Executive Director of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei is Jordan Reeves.

Canadian Trade Office in Taipei
Bureau commercial du Canada à Taipei
加拿大駐臺北貿易辦事處

Walsin Lihwa Building where the Canadian Trade Office is located.
Agency overview
JurisdictionRepublic of China
Headquarters6th Floor, No. 1, Song-Zhi Road, Xinyi, Taipei, Taiwan
WebsiteCanadian Trade Office in Taipei

History

Canada established diplomatic representation with the Republic of China (ROC) in 1942, when it dispatched an ambassador to the temporary capital of Chongqing. The Canadian embassy was moved to Nanking in 1946, where it remained until the city was taken by Communist forces on 23 April 1949. Canada chose not to post establish an embassy in Taipei, instead maintaining relations through a trade mission in Manila.[1] Canadian citizens in Taiwan received consular assistance from the British consulate.[2]

Canada and the People's Republic of China (PRC) signed a joint communiqué marking the establishment of diplomatic relations on 13 October 1970, in which Canada recognizes the PRC government as the "sole legal government of China" and "takes note" of China's position that Taiwan is an "inalienable part of the territory" of the PRC.[3] It is the position of the PRC government that countries with which it has diplomatic relations may not also maintain official relations with the Republic of China.

The CTOT started operations on 28 November 1986. Staff were initially drawn from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, but the CTOT is now fully funded by the Government of Canada and staffed by the federal government departments Global Affairs Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Despite its name, the CTOT does not differ from any other Canadian overseas mission. The CTOT does everything from issuing Canadian passports and providing consular services, to promoting trade and investment cooperation and cultural/educational exchanges. In addition, there are also provincial representatives from the Governments of Alberta and Quebec.

The ROC, likewise, is represented in Canada by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, which has established offices in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) has operated non-governmental trade offices in Canada since the creation of the Far East Trade Services in Montreal in 1970.

List of Executive Directors
  • Robert Kelly (Canadian Chamber of Commerce, 1986-1988);
  • John Clayden (Canadian Chamber of Commerce, 1988-1991);
  • Ron Berlet (External Affairs Canada 1991-1993, Foreign Affairs Canada 1993 onwards, 1991-1995);
  • Hugh Stephens (Foreign Affairs Canada, 1995-1998);
  • David Mulroney (Foreign Affairs Canada, 1998-2001);[4]
  • Ted Lipman (Foreign Affairs Canada, 2001-2004);
  • Gordon Houlden (Foreign Affairs Canada, 2004-2006);
  • Ron MacIntosh (Foreign Affairs Canada, 2006-2009);
  • Scott Fraser (Foreign Affairs Canada, 2009-2012);
  • Kathleen Mackay (Foreign Affairs Canada, 2012–August 10, 2015);[5]
  • Mario Ste-Marie (Global Affairs Canada, 2015-2018);
  • Jordan Reeves (Global Affairs Canada, 2018–)

Mulroney would later serve as the Canadian Ambassador to the PRC from 2009 to 2012.[6]

Transportation

CTOT is accessible within walking distance south of Taipei City Hall Station of the Taipei Metro.

See also

References
  1. Whitlam hasn't dumped Taiwan, Bruce Grant, The Age, July 14, 1971, page 5
  2. No Envoy to Taiwan, United Press International, The Milwaukee Journal, October 18, 1970
  3. Canada, Peking Establish Diplomatic Ties, New York Times News Service, Bangor Daily News, October 13, 1970
  4. Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, House of Commons, Tuesday, June 14, 2005
  5. Taiwan honors departing Canadian envoy for efforts to promote ties, Focus Taiwan, August 4, 2015
  6. David Mulroney, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
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