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Meticulous reporting on the Vatican’s complex relationship with the island democracy.
TAIPEI, Taiwan — For decades, Taiwan has watched one ally after another cut diplomatic ties under pressure from China. Since 2016 alone, 10 countries have switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing, leaving only a dozen states that maintain full formal relations with Taiwan today, among them, the Holy See.
The island democracy’s only embassy on European soil looks onto St. Peter’s Basilica from the Via della Conciliazione, making the Vatican one of the most visible places in the world where the flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is flown publicly in defiance of the Chinese Communist Party’s view that Taiwan does not exist as a country.
“The Vatican is the only country in Europe that still recognizes Taiwan,” said Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister François Chihchung Wu in an interview with the Register. “And we need to maintain this kind of diplomatic relation because it is the source of the legitimacy of our government. So we are continuing to work very hard to work with the Vatican and trying to maintain this diplomatic relation, which is crucial for us.”
That political tension surfaced again in the last days of 2025, as China launched its biggest ever military drill around Taiwan after the U.S. announced an $11-billion arms sale to Taiwan. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, told U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Nov. 24 that “Taiwan’s return to China is an important part of the postwar international order,” according to Chinese state media.
Continued below.
www.ncregister.com
TAIPEI, Taiwan — For decades, Taiwan has watched one ally after another cut diplomatic ties under pressure from China. Since 2016 alone, 10 countries have switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing, leaving only a dozen states that maintain full formal relations with Taiwan today, among them, the Holy See.
The island democracy’s only embassy on European soil looks onto St. Peter’s Basilica from the Via della Conciliazione, making the Vatican one of the most visible places in the world where the flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is flown publicly in defiance of the Chinese Communist Party’s view that Taiwan does not exist as a country.
“The Vatican is the only country in Europe that still recognizes Taiwan,” said Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister François Chihchung Wu in an interview with the Register. “And we need to maintain this kind of diplomatic relation because it is the source of the legitimacy of our government. So we are continuing to work very hard to work with the Vatican and trying to maintain this diplomatic relation, which is crucial for us.”
That political tension surfaced again in the last days of 2025, as China launched its biggest ever military drill around Taiwan after the U.S. announced an $11-billion arms sale to Taiwan. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, told U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Nov. 24 that “Taiwan’s return to China is an important part of the postwar international order,” according to Chinese state media.
Continued below.
A Cornered Taiwan Finds New Hope for Vatican Support Under Pope Leo XIV
ANALYSIS: Meticulous reporting on the Vatican’s complex relationship with the island democracy.
