View source for Mexico–Taiwan relations

{{Infobox bilateral relations 
| title       = Mexican–Taiwanese relations
| party1      = Mexico
| party2      = Taiwan 
| map         = Mexico Taiwan Locator.png
| mission2    = [[Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Mexico]] 
| mission1    = Mexican Trade Services Documentation and Cultural Office 
| envoytitle1 = Head of Office:
| envoy1      = Martin Torres Gutierrez Rubio
| envoytitle2 = Representative
| envoy2      = Armando Cheng 
}}

[[Mexico]] and [[Taiwan]] (also known as Republic of China) have maintained unofficial [[Bilateralism|bilateral relations]] since 1972. Previously, Mexico had formal relations with the Republic of China from 1949 until 1971, when it recognized the [[People's Republic of China]]. Both nations are members of the [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]] and the [[World Trade Organization]].

==History==
{{see also|China–Mexico relations}}
[[File:Taipei World Trade Center International Trade Building 20090617.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Building hosting the "Mexican Trade Services, Documentation and Cultural Office" in Taipei]]
In 1626, [[Spain]] established a colony in the northern part of present-day Taiwan. The colony of [[Spanish Formosa]] was held until 1642 and was administered by the Viceroy of [[New Spain]] in [[Mexico City]]. While under Spanish control, ships that sailed between the ports of [[Manila]] and [[Acapulco]] (known as the [[Manila galleon]]) would stop at the Spanish [[Fort San Domingo|Fort of San Domingo]] to carry goods and people between Taiwan and the two ports.<ref>[https://www.hojadellunes.com/la-colonia-espanola-de-la-santisima-trinidad-en-taiwan/ La colonia española de La Santísima Trinidad en Taiwán (in Spanish)]</ref>

Beginning in 1949, Mexico maintained diplomatic relations with the [[Kuomintang]] government of the Republic of China.<ref>[http://sre.gob.mx/images/stories/docnormateca/manexte/embajadas/moemchina.pdf Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China]</ref> However, official relations between Mexico and the Republic of China (Taiwan) ended in 1971 when Mexico voted in favor of the [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758]] which recognized the [[People's Republic of China]] (mainland China) "as the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations".<ref>[https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/192054?ln=en&v=pdf United Nations Resolution 2758]</ref><ref name=SRE>[https://sre.gob.mx/images/stories/docnormateca/comeri/2014/mooftaiwan.pdf Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Taiwan (in Spanish)]</ref> Since the adoption of UN Resolution 2758, Mexico has maintained official diplomatic relations with mainland China and unofficial diplomatic relations with Taiwan since 1972.<ref name=SRE />

In order to promote trade, in 1990 Mexico opened a "Mexican Trade Services" office in [[Taipei]] (which held no diplomatic status). The office was later upgraded in 1991 to include a consular section and it was known as the "Mexican Trade Services, Documentation and Cultural Office".<ref name=SRE /> In 1993, Taiwan opened a 'Taipei Economic and Cultural Office' in [[Mexico City]].<ref name=Taiwan>[https://www.roc-taiwan.org/mx_es/index.html Oficina Económica y Cultural de Taipei en México (in Spanish)]</ref> Both representative offices are unofficially ''de facto'' embassies in each nations' capitals, respectively.

In 1991, the Taiwanese government proposed direct flights between Taiwan and Mexico with [[China Airlines]] to the government of Mexican President [[Carlos Salinas de Gortari]], however, actions were never taken on the proposal. That same year, a high-level Mexican government official attended the 42nd [[National Day of the Republic of China]].<ref name=Relations>[https://acervo.sre.gob.mx/images/libros/RI/vol_6_asia.pdf Historia de las Relaciones Internacionales de México - Taiwán (in Spanish - pages 488 - 492)]</ref> After several protests from the People's Republic of China on the Mexican official attending Taiwan's National Day, Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister [[Andrés Rozental Gutman]] promised to end all visits to Taiwan by Mexican government officials.<ref name=Relations /> 

In 1994, Taiwanese Prime Minister [[Lien Chan]] paid a visit to Mexico and met with Mexican President [[Carlos Salinas de Gortari]] and presidential candidate [[Ernesto Zedillo]].<ref name=Relations /> In November 2002, [[List of Chinese Taipei Representatives to APEC|Taiwanese Representative of the President]], [[Yuan T. Lee]], visited [[Los Cabos Municipality|Los Cabos]], Mexico to attend the [[APEC Mexico 2002|APEC summit]].<ref>[https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2002/10/22/0000176606 Lee Yuan-tseh prepares for APEC]</ref> 

In May 2012, a memorandum to explore a free trade agreement was signed between both nations.<ref>[https://mexico.taiwantrade.com/news/detail?id=9560&lang=es_ES Taiwán y México firman memorándum de entendimiento - cooperación para la promoción del comercio bilateral. (in Spanish)]</ref> 

==Trade==
In 2023, total trade between both nations totaled US$14.9 billion.<ref name=Trade>[https://www.economia.gob.mx/datamexico/en/profile/country/taiwan Data México: Taiwan]</ref> Mexico's exports to Taiwan include: machinery, telephones and mobile phones, motor cars and other vehicles, nickel, copper ores and other articles, chemical based products, vegetables, fish and other meat products. Taiwan's exports to Mexico include: electronic integrated circuits, parts and accessories for machines, electronics, parts and accessories of motor vehicles, clothing articles, and fish.<ref name=Trade /> More than 250 Taiwanese companies invest and/or operate in Mexico.<ref name=Investment /> Taiwanese multinational companies such as [[Foxconn]], Invetec, [[Pegatron]] and [[Unimicron]] (among others) operate in Mexico.<ref>[https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/empresas/20-empresas-de-microchips-de-Taiwan-buscan-invertir-en-Mexico-20230618-0014.html 20 empresas de microchips de Taiwán buscan invertir en México (in Spanish)]</ref>

Taiwan is the third largest investor in Mexico from [[Asia]] and Mexico's ninth biggest trading partner globally.<ref>[http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/entrada-de-opinion/colaboracion/carlos-s-c-liao/nacion/2015/12/28/taiwan-busca-ser-socio-de-mexico Taiwán busca ser socio de México en el TPP (in Spanish)]</ref> Mexico is Taiwan's largest trading partner in Latin-America.<ref name=Investment>[https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/empresas/Mexico-recibe-a-la-IP-de-Taiwan-que-busca-aprovechar-el-nearshoring-en-autos-electricos-20240507-0032.html México recibe a la IP de Taiwán que busca aprovechar el nearshoring en autos eléctricos (in Spanish)]</ref> In 2021, the Mexican Government issued its first 50 years [[Formosa bond]] in the [[Taipei Exchange]].<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/mexico-debt-idUSL4N2JF2W6/ Mexico raises $3 billion with first Formosa 50-year bond]</ref>

== Resident diplomatic missions ==
* Mexico has a liaison office in [[Taipei]] known as the "Mexican Trade Services Documentation and Cultural Office".<ref>[https://oficinaenlace.sre.gob.mx/taiwan/ Mexican Trade Services, Documentation and Cultural Office (in Chinese and Spanish)]</ref>
* Taiwan has a liaison office in [[Mexico City]] known as the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Mexico" (''Oficina Económica y Cultural de Taipei en México'').<ref name=Taiwan />

== See also ==
* [[Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Mexico]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Foreign relations of Mexico}}
{{Foreign relations of Taiwan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mexico-Taiwan}}
[[Category:Bilateral relations of Mexico|Taiwan]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of Taiwan|Mexico]]