Apostolic Nunciature to China
Diplomatic post of the Holy See
The Apostolic Nunciature to China is the diplomatic mission of the Holy See to the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located at 7–1, Lane 265, Heping East Road Section 2, Da'an District, Taipei, the Holy See conducts its relationship with China through formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and is the only European country in which Taiwan has an embassy. It does not have a formal diplomatic relationship with the People's Republic of China. The rank of a nuncio is equivalent to that of an ambassador. The post has been vacant since 1971, when UN Resolution 2758 was passed, recognizing the representatives of the PRC government as the only legitimate representatives of China. Since then, the mission has been headed by a chargé d'affaires.
History
Efforts by both the Catholic Church and the Chinese government to establish direct contact began in the late Qing dynasty. Direct contact would break the restrictions of the Protectorate of missions of France. The Catholic Church responded to a request by Li Hongzhang of the Qing Empire on 3 May 1870 and established diplomatic ties. The church sent Archbishop Antonio Agliardi to China in early August as plenipotentiary with regard to diplomatic affairs.
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