Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia (TECO; Chinese: 駐澳大利亞代表處; pinyin: Zhù Àodàlìyǎ Dàibiǎo Chù) represents interests of Taiwan in Australia in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, functioning as a de facto embassy.[3]
Agency overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1988 (as Taiwan Marketing Services)[1] 1991 (as Taipei Economic and Cultural Office)[1] |
Jurisdiction | Australia Tuvalu Nauru |
Headquarters | Barton, Canberra, Canberra |
Agency executive |
|
Website | Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia |
The Office is headed by a Representative, currently Elliott Charng.[2]
Its head office is in Canberra, but it also has branch offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.[3]
It was established in 1988 as the "Taiwan Marketing Service" office, before becoming the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office" in 1991, along with the "Far East Trading Company" offices in Sydney and Melbourne, established in 1979.[1] An unofficial organisation known as the Australia-Free China Society, headed by New South Wales MP Douglas Darby, also represented Taiwan in Australia from 1974.[4]
It is counterpart in Taiwan is the Australian Office in Taipei, formerly the Australian Commerce and Industry Office.[5]
Organizational structures
- Public Affairs Division
- Cultural Division
- Economic Division
- Information Division
- Science and Technology Division
List of Representatives
- Timothy Yang (2000–2005)
- Katharine Chang (December 2011 – 31 December 2014)
- David Lee (1 January 2015 – ?)
- William Lin (acting) ( ? - October 2016)
- Elliott Charng (October 2016 –)[2]
References
- Australia and China: Partners in Asia, Colin Mackerras, Macmillan Education, 1996, page 33
- "About the Representative".
- Organisation of TECO Archived 22 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- Love-hate with Taiwan, Sydney Morning Herald, March 12, 1974, page 4
- Australian office renamed, Taipei Times, 30 May 2012