Taiwan's Diplomatic Allies and International Diplomacy: 12 Allies, 113 Missions, 177 Visa-Free Countries (2026)

On January 15, 2024, within 48 hours of Lai Ching-te's election as President, Nauru announced the severance of diplomatic relations, reducing the number of allied nations from 13 to 12. However, in the same year, Taiwan had 113 overseas missions, its passport allowed travel to 177 countries, TSMC produced 90% of the world's advanced chips, and the European Parliament passed a resolution opposing China's distortion of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 with a vote of 432:60:71. Paper recognition is shrinking, while the shadow network is expanding, and the battle over international law interpretation is reversing.

Taiwan's Diplomatic Allies and International Diplomacy: 12 Allies, 113 Missions, 177 Visa-Free Countries

30-Second Overview: The Republic of China (Taiwan) currently has 12 allied nations, the fewest among major global economies. At the same time, Taiwan has established approximately 113 overseas missions in 71 countries, its citizens' passports allow entry to 177 countries and regions1, TSMC produces approximately 90% of the world's high-end chips2, and in 2024, the European Parliament passed a resolution opposing China's distortion of UN Resolution 2758 with a vote of 432:60:713. These three sets of numbers are the entirety of this article.

48 Hours After Lai Ching-te's Election

On the evening of January 13, 2024, Lai Ching-te won the presidential election.

Two days later, on the morning of January 15 at 11:45 AM, Nauru President David Adeang held a press conference in the capital of Yaren, announcing that "Nauru recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing China," thereby terminating diplomatic relations with the Republic of China effective immediately4.

At that time, then-Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu was in Guatemala.

His reaction, according to accounts from Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, was "very angry"—because significant effort had been invested in Nauru5. At 2:15 PM, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Tian Zhongguang held a press conference in Taipei, revealing that Nauru's new government was "demanding exorbitant aid from us and comparing prices with the mainland": Nauru sought to fill the fiscal gap left by Australia closing its domestic refugee processing center (approximately NT$2.6 billion per year, exceeding half of Nauru's national annual budget), plus engineering costs for the 2026 Micronesia Games6. After Taiwan evaluated and sought cooperation with neighboring countries, negotiations were still in the mid-stage when China promised Nauru $100 million in annual aid7. Nauru chose the side with the higher bid.

📝 Curator's Note
Taiwan has become accustomed to losing when it comes to allied nations. From a peak of 70 countries in 1969 to 12 in 2024, the average loss is slightly more than one per year over fifty years. However, after reading this article, you will find that the number of allied nations is just one line of Taiwan's diplomacy—and not the most critical one.

From 70 to 12: A Half-Century of Disintegration

70 → 22 21 → 12
1969-1988 (Chiang Kai-shek, Chiang Ching-kuo) 2016-2024 (Tsai Ing-wen, 8 years)

The number of the Republic of China's allied nations was at its highest not during the Taipei era, but in the early years after retreating to Taiwan from Nanjing, during the Cold War peak. In 1969, with 70 countries, it relied on the overall layout of the anti-communist camp8.

This was followed by a series of turning points:

  1. 1971/10/25 — The UN General Assembly passed Resolution 2758. ROC UN Representative Chou Shu-kai took the stage before the vote to read an exit statement: "Because the current UN is shrouded in irrational emotions and procedures, the ROC delegation will no longer participate in any UN meetings from now on."9 He then led the delegation out in succession. The resolution passed 76 to 35.
  2. 1972/9/29 — Japan severed ties. Tanaka Kakuei flew to Beijing.
  3. 1979/1/1 — The US severed ties. The Carter administration shifted, with the Taiwan Relations Act providing remedial measures in April10.
  4. 1989-1996 — Lee Teng-hui's "Pragmatic Diplomacy" rebound period, where the number of allied nations temporarily rose from 22 to 31. The most painful loss during this period was South Korea on 1992/8/23: The Roh Tae-woo government demanded ROC embassy staff leave within 24 hours, and the embassy land and buildings were confiscated and handed over to Beijing—in the memories of retired diplomats, this scene was simplified into one phrase: "Confiscated the embassy, betrayed the Five Tigers."11
  5. 2008-2016 — Ma Ying-jeou's "Diplomatic Truce" period. Only one country severed ties (Gambia) over 8 years, but no new allied nations were added. This stability came at the cost of cross-strait relations.
  6. 2016-2024 — Tsai Ing-wen's 8 years saw the loss of 10 allied nations, the highest record since the lifting of martial law. The timing and Chinese conditions for each are detailed below.

The numbers are cold. But behind each number is a set of negotiations, a set of aid, and a decision by a president or king.

The 10 Goodbyes of Tsai Ing-wen's 8 Years

These 10 countries share a common pattern: New governments take office, demand aid packages several times better than before; Taiwan does not accept, China takes over12.

  1. 2016/12/21 — São Tomé and Príncipe
  2. 2017/6/13 — Panama. The Varela government gave no prior warning
  3. 2018/5/1 — Dominican Republic
  4. 2018/5/24 — Burkina Faso
  5. 2018/8/21 — El Salvador
  6. 2019/9/16 — Solomon Islands
  7. 2019/9/20 — Kiribati (Lost 2 countries in 4 days, the most intensive week in severance history)
  8. 2021/12/10 — Nicaragua (Ortega government)
  9. 2023/3/26 — Honduras
  10. 2024/1/15 — Nauru

The case of Honduras deserves a pause. The Castro government proposed a $6 billion construction plan to China upon taking office, demanded $2.5 billion in aid from Taiwan, required Taiwan to double its annual aid from $50 million, and help restructure $600 million in debt13. Taiwan could not keep up with this price tag.

✦ "China just wants to colonize us."

This is what Honduras' former Vice President said to the media looking back in 202414. According to an ETtoday exposé in April 2025, the amount China originally promised had only $280 million in school renovation funds and $100,000 in medical donations actually arrived by 2025, with the rest largely defaulted15.

But once diplomatic relations are severed, restoring them is almost impossible. Regret cannot go back.

The Portrait of 12 Countries: Who, Why, and Will They Leave?

Of the 12 allied nations, 3 are in Oceania, 1 in Africa, 1 in Europe, and 7 in Latin America and the Caribbean16. Memorizing them as a list is meaningless. It is more useful to look at which ones have stories.

The Holy See: One Vote for 900 Million Catholics

Relations were established during the Nationalist Government period in 1942, making it one of the longest-standing allied relationships today, spanning 84 years. The Holy See is a UN observer state, the only non-UN member among Taiwan's allied nations17.

The Holy See's true movements lie not in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but in bishop appointments. China and the Holy See signed a temporary agreement on bishop appointments in 2018, with the most recent renewal in 2024. If Beijing unilaterally appoints bishops in the future and the Holy See does not object, the survival of the Holy See-Taiwan alliance will enter a test period.

Pope Francis passed away in April 2025, and Robert Francis Prevost was elected on May 8, the first pope born in North America, taking the title Leo XIV (Leo XIV)18. The new pope's China policy has not yet fully unfolded.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung publicly listed "Haiti and the Holy See" as the two allied nations requiring "special attention" in a Public Television interview in March 202519—said euphemistically, but the meaning is clear enough.

Paraguay: The Only One in South America, Sustained by the Colorado Party's Lineage for 69 Years

Relations were established in 1957. Paraguay is Taiwan's only ally in South America, having survived a succession crisis after the 1989 coup and sustained long-term pressure from China's market and political overtures; the full story is told in Paraguay and Taiwan.

Paraguay's Colorado Party has been in power intermittently since 1947 for over 70 years. Anti-communism and pro-Taiwanism are structural legacies left by the Cold War era. The 2023 election winner, Santiago Peña, is a Colorado Party candidate, while the Liberal opposition advocated reviewing policy towards Taiwan—voters chose the Colorado Party, effectively choosing to continue the alliance.

In May 2024, Peña personally flew to Taipei to attend Lai Ching-te's inauguration ceremony20. In November of the same year, Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez publicly stated during his visit to Taiwan:

✦ "We do not accept severing ties with Taiwan under any conditions."21

But in July 2025, Colorado Party MP Hugo Meza returned from a visit to China and proposed a motion to abandon Taiwan. The underlying consensus among Colorado Party elites is shifting, but it has not yet flipped over.

Haiti: So Broken That Even China Doesn't Want to Dig

Relations were established in 1956. The highest-risk one among the 12 allied nations.

After former President Moïse was assassinated in July 2021, Haiti entered long-term turmoil under gang rule. The capital, Port-au-Prince, is like a war zone, and the transitional government's promised August 2025 election has been repeatedly delayed22.

Lin Chia-lung named Haiti as requiring "special attention," but there is an counter-intuitive detail: Haiti may not leave, partly because Taiwan can hold on, and partly because China may not necessarily want to. A broken country with no stable government, no commercial interests, and no strategic value is not cost-effective for Beijing.

This reveals a logic rarely spoken aloud: Whether an allied nation can be retained is sometimes not about how hard Taiwan tries, but about whether China is interested.

Tuvalu: 82% of the Population is Moving

Relations were established in 1979. Population approximately 10,000. Facing a crisis of national extinction due to sea-level rise—IPCC data shows its sea-level rise rate is twice the global average, rising 14 cm over the past 30 years, and potentially rising another 19 cm in the next 30 years23.

In June 2025, Australia opened the world's first "Climate Visa" (a special channel under the Falepili Union Treaty), allowing Tuvaluans to migrate to Australia for long-term residence. By the end of 2025, approximately 8,750 Tuvaluans had applied, equivalent to 82% of the national population24.

⚠️ The population of an allied nation is migrating to non-allied nations via policy
Tuvalu will not disappear tomorrow, nor will Australia take over tomorrow. But the concept of "sovereignty" is being redefined in this case. If the majority of an allied nation's citizens live in another country, use another country's welfare system, and pay taxes to another country, where is the "national" nature of the allied nation?

Taiwan and Fiji are the only two Pacific operating fishing vessel jurisdiction countries that signed a supporting declaration for Tuvalu's maritime boundaries25. This is Taiwan's support for the narrative that "even if your land is submerged in the sea, your maritime sovereignty remains yours."

Eswatini: The Presidential Plane Lai Ching-te Was to Take in April 2026 That Never Flew

Relations were established in 1968. Taiwan's last ally in Africa—having lost 10 African allies cumulatively over the past 30 years26. King Mswati III is one of the last absolute monarchs in Africa, personally visiting Taipei in May 2024 to attend Lai Ching-te's inauguration.

In April 2026, Lai Ching-te was scheduled to depart on April 22 to visit Eswatini to celebrate the triple ceremony of King Mswati III's 40th coronation anniversary, his 58th birthday, and Eswatini's 58th independence anniversary.

12 hours before departure, the itinerary was suspended.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the presidential plane's route passed through countries that temporarily canceled flight permits. The National Security team decided to suspend the trip for the sake of the head of state's and flight safety, sending Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung as the President's special envoy to Eswatini27. Lin Chia-lung arrived in Eswatini early on April 25—he flew from Taiwan to Vienna, Austria, then boarded a Gulfstream private charter from Cathay Pacific departing from Vienna, entering the African continent, deliberately avoiding the airspace of Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar.

This convoluted route makes the problem clear. China's pressure range has expanded from the allied nations themselves to their neighbors—African air blockades are a new tactic emerging after 2024.

Why Only 12 Remain

There are three structural reasons, with no single answer:

1. The "Translation War" of UN Resolution 2758

On October 25, 1971, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 2758 with a vote of 76:35:17. The original Chinese version contains only one paragraph:

Decides: to restore all the rights of the People's Republic of China, to recognize its government's representatives as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations Organization, and to immediately expel the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place they illegally occupy in the United Nations Organization and its specialized agencies. 28

Note four things: The original text does not mention "Taiwan," does not mention the "Republic of China," does not authorize the "One-China Principle," and does not prohibit Taiwan's participation in the UN system.

But for the past half-century, China has always translated this paragraph into "2758 equals One-China Principle equals Taiwan is part of China equals no country may establish official relations with Taiwan"—this extended interpretation began to be positively refuted in 2024.

In April 2024, US State Department Coordinator for China Mark Lambert publicly stated four positions[^29]:

  1. Resolution 2758 does not recognize, equate to, or reflect any consensus among countries on China's "One-China Principle"
  2. The resolution does not limit the sovereign choices of any country regarding substantive relations with Taiwan
  3. The resolution does not constitute the UN's official position on Taiwan's final political status
  4. The resolution does not exclude Taiwan's meaningful participation in the UN system and other multilateral forums

On September 18 of the same year, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell directly pointed out in congressional testimony that "China uses Resolution 2758 as a tool to undermine Taiwan's status." On April 23, 2025, the US publicly criticized China's misuse of Resolution 2758 at a UN Security Council meeting29.

On October 24, 2024, the European Parliament passed a resolution with 432 votes in favor, 60 against, and 71 abstentions, opposing China's distortion of Resolution 2758, condemning military provocations against Taiwan, and positioning Taiwan as a "key EU partner and Indo-Pacific democratic friend"30. In the same year, parliaments in Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and the UK also passed similar motions.

📝 Curator's Note
Resolution 2758 is a paragraph written in 1971. No one has changed it in 50 years. But the way this paragraph has been interpreted is updating in reverse over the past 50 years—this is rare in international law; the original text has not changed, but the consensus is changing.

2. China's Pressure Arsenal

China's arsenal is not just one type; five combinations operate:

  • Aid Engineering: Promised a $6 billion plan for Honduras, $100 million annually for Nauru, and tied Solomon Islands and Kiribati with infrastructure projects. The fulfillment rate has always been low (Honduras case only $280 million arrived), but it was sufficient at the time of signing.
  • Bilateral Penetration: Operating multi-track through pro-China MPs in specific countries (e.g., Paraguayan MPs visiting China proposing to abandon Taiwan), and individual contacts by foreign ministers (e.g., Guatemala's Foreign Minister planned in February 2024 to develop trade with Beijing while maintaining allied status).
  • International Organization Blockade: Using "2758 = One-China Principle" as a narrative basis, requiring organizations to exclude Taiwan (most notably, the WHO refused to invite Taiwan as an observer to the WHA starting in 201731).
  • Economic Coercion: After Lithuania agreed to set up a "Taiwanese Representative Office" (using "Taiwanese" instead of the previously common European "Taipei") in 2021, China immediately downgraded diplomatic relations, withdrew its ambassador, and banned Lithuanian goods imports32. The Lithuania case later became a benchmark for the EU on how to resist Chinese economic coercion.
  • Air Blockade: Pressure on Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar for African transit in April 2026 is a newly emerging version.

3. The Political Economy of Small States

Of the 12 allied nations, 9 have populations under 1 million. Fiscal dependence on foreign aid is high, climate risks are urgent, and decision-making power is concentrated in a few hands. These are structural conditions, amoral—a decision by a Nauru president may be the turning point for whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' work for a whole year can be preserved.

For these countries, establishing relations with China means larger aid, broader markets, and more infrastructure. For small states, this is the survival strategy under the great power competition landscape. The reduction in allied nations is essentially a constant of the restructuring of the great power landscape.

The 113 Missions Behind the 12 Countries

The old calculation was the number of allied nations. The new calculation is the density of the overseas network.

As of December 2025, Taiwan has established approximately 113 overseas missions in 71 countries, 2 regions (Hong Kong, Macau), and 1 international organization (WTO)33, including 12 formal embassies (in the 12 allied nations) and over 100 substantive diplomatic outposts operating under the names of "Representative Offices" or "Offices."

The most representative is the Taiwan-US relationship. After severing ties in 1979, both sides established institutions:

  • TECRO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office) in Washington D.C., with 12 branches (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Guam)
  • AIT (American Institute in Taiwan) in Taipei

These institutions are not called embassies, but their functions are exactly the same: visas, trade, cultural exchange, consular protection, arms sales coordination. The TECRO/AIT model later became the template for other non-allied countries' relations with Taiwan.

Two recent evolutions:

  • November 2021: Lithuania opened the "Taiwanese Representative Office"—the first in Europe to use "Taiwanese" (instead of "Taipei") as its name, viewed by China as crossing a red line34.
  • March 2020: The Trump administration in the US signed the TAIPEI Act (Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act, Pub.L. 116-135), authorizing the State Department to intervene to protect Taiwan's allied nations and support Taiwan's participation in international organizations without nationality requirements35.

The US protecting Taiwan's allied nations itself is a sign of non-allied countries deeply involving themselves in Taiwan's diplomatic affairs—traditionally, allied nation affairs should be handled by the two allied parties.

Passports Can Go to 177 Countries: Another Measure of Recognition

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official statistics from January 30, 2026: The Republic of China passport enjoys visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and e-visa conveniences, allowing entry to 177 countries and regions globally36.

The Henley Passport Index ranked the Taiwan passport around 33rd in the world in 2026, similar to Japan and South Korea.

Among these 177 countries, the vast majority do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. What allows passports to pass is not diplomatic alliance, but bilateral mutual trust, economic links, low crime rates, and low illegal immigration records. The ratio of allied nations to countries accessible by passport is 12:177—approximately 1:15.

⚠️ A Paradox
The length of the allied nations list and the actual international mobility of citizens are inversely related. An increase in the number of allied nations is mostly due to small countries agreeing to establish relations after aid deals; an increase in countries accessible by passport is due to national image, security records, and visa reciprocity. The latter is harder but more reliable.

Silicon Shield: 90%, 30%, Double-Edged Sword

In 2026, TSMC produces approximately 90% of the world's high-end chips37. This number is not PR language; it is the actual procurement record of NVIDIA, Apple, AMD, Qualcomm, and Intel.

This is the material basis for the concept of the "Silicon Shield": Major countries need Taiwan's chips, which guarantee Taiwan's international status more than the paper promises of 12 allied nations. If China attacks Taiwan, the global AI, smartphone, and automotive supply chains would halt within 2 months.

But the silicon shield is being elevated by itself. TSMC is building 5 fabs + 2 advanced packaging plants + 1 R&D center in Arizona, with a total investment of $165 billion. The first fab went into mass production of 4nm in 2025 and began代工 (contract manufacturing) for NVIDIA's Blackwell AI processors—this is TSMC's first production of cutting-edge AI chips outside Taiwan38. The second fab is expected to mass produce 3nm in 2027, and the third 2nm in 2029. After all are completed, approximately 30% of the world's most advanced chips will be produced in the US39.

✦ "There was a moment when everybody started waking up to the dependence on TSMC."

This is GMF Indo-Pacific Program Director Bonnie Glaser's observation40. She also pointed out: Arizona's expansion may "endanger Taiwan's strategic importance by damaging its silicon shield" (by weakening the silicon shield, it damages Taiwan's strategic importance).

The MIT Technology Review headline in August 2025 was straightforward: "Taiwan's silicon shield could be weakening"41.

The silicon shield has never been something Taiwan can decide unilaterally. Its effectiveness is built on the monopoly that "Taiwan is the only place that can make 2nm chips"—once the monopoly is dispersed, the physical basis of the silicon shield is reduced.

This is the true diplomatic proposition of the Lai Ching-te era: How to ensure that Arizona's expansion, while reducing US dependence on Taiwan, does not reduce the US's political will to defend Taiwan. No one has a ready answer.

The Real Risk of Allied Nations Going to Zero

Many ask: What happens if one day all 12 allied nations sever ties?

On a dramatic level, nothing may happen. Taiwan and the US have no diplomatic alliance, yet sell billions in arms annually; Taiwan and Japan have no diplomatic alliance, yet Japan is one of Taiwan's largest tourist source countries. Substantive relations have nothing to do with the number of allied nations.

But on the level of international law, there are four real risks:

  1. The Narrative of National Identity Dissolution Will Emerge. The Montevideo Convention of 1933 defines statehood in four elements (population, territory, government, diplomatic capacity); Taiwan meets the first three; but "continuous recognition" is customary international law. Going to zero will trigger the legal narrative of "whether Taiwan is still a state."
  2. The Consular Protection Chain Will Be Forced to Restructure. The legal status of the 113 overseas missions mostly relies on gray mechanisms like "ally trusteeship" or "customary international law acquiescence." Allied nations going to zero will force these gray mechanisms to be re-codified.
  3. Hope for Return to International Organizations Will Decrease. Return to organizations like WHA, ICAO, and Interpol relies almost entirely on the channel of "ally support for Taiwan" in annual allied nation assemblies. Going to zero will make this path disappear completely.
  4. The Legal Status in Cross-Strait Military Crises Will Upgrade to a Point of Contention. Whether Taiwan is a "state" under international law, whether third-party intervention is legal, whether IHL (International Humanitarian Law) or internal war law applies, POW treatment—every line will be re-debated.

The fourth point is the real risk. Allied nations going to zero itself will not change anything immediately, but it gives China an additional narrative tool for future potential conflicts: "Taiwan has not even 1 allied nation, so it is not a state under international law."

Maintaining 12 allied nations makes this narrative untenable. So the 12 countries themselves have limited significance; their significance lies in the fact that they are not 0.

Three Numbers

12              113             177
Allied Nations  Overseas Missions  Countries Accessible by Passport

12 countries recognize the Republic of China government of Taiwan as "China's legitimate government."
113 missions represent Taiwan in the world to handle actual business.
177 countries do not recognize the Republic of China, but allow Taiwan citizens to enter.

The European Parliament passed the anti-2758 resolution with 432 votes. When Tsai Ing-wen left office in May 2024, there were 12 allied nations; after leaving office, she was invited to visit the European Parliament in October. Bonnie Glaser said there was a moment of TSMC dependence. Mark Lambert said 2758 did not write about Taiwan.

These things are happening simultaneously. None is called "Taiwan's international status."

If there is one, that thing is not 12, nor 113, nor 177, nor 90% or 30%.

It is the distance between these numbers.

Where this story traveled

Threads 2026-04-29 17,000 次閱讀 · 500 個共鳴 ↗ X 2026-04-29 59,190 次閱讀 · 1192 個共鳴 ↗

Further Reading:

References

  1. Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Visa-Free, Visa-on-Arrival, and E-Visa Information — Updated version 2026-01-30, 177 countries/regions↩
  2. MIT Technology Review — Taiwan's silicon shield could be weakening — 2025 analysis of TSMC's ~90% market share in global advanced processes↩
  3. European Parliament Resolution RC-B10-0134/2024 — Original text of the European Parliament's 2024-10-24 anti-2758 distortion resolution, vote count 432:60:71↩
  4. CNA — Chronicle of ROC-Nauru Relations — Nauru's 2024-01-15 severance timeline and Adeang's statement↩
  5. The News Lens — Nauru's Surprise Severance, Joseph Wu Was Angry — MOFA officials' account of Joseph Wu's reaction in Guatemala↩
  6. UDN News — Nauru Demanded NT$2.6 Billion in Aid for This Matter — Details of the fiscal gap from Australia closing the refugee processing center↩
  7. Business Today — Nauru President Demands Exorbitant Aid, China Promises $100 Million Annually — Anonymous foreign affairs insiders revealed China's promise; China denied↩
  8. Wikipedia — List of Republic of China Allied Nations — Historical record of the 70-country peak in 1969↩
  9. Story Studio — Chiang Kai-shek's Policy Bottom Line on Resolution 2758 and Chou Shu-kai's Exit Statement — Full text source of Chou Shu-kai's UN exit speech↩
  10. Wikipedia — Taiwan Relations Act — 1979 US severance and the Taiwan Relations Act↩
  11. CNA — Unboxing Old Photos: 32nd Anniversary of ROC-Korea Severance — 1992-08-23 Korea severance, 24-hour evacuation, embassy confiscation details↩
  12. CNA — China's Ruthless Calculation, 8 Years, 10 Strikes — Analysis of the timing and conditions of Tsai Ing-wen's 10 severances↩
  13. Liberty Times — Honduras Economic Aid Conditions — Castro government's demand of $2.5 billion aid and $600 million debt restructuring from Taiwan↩
  14. Watch Chinese — Honduras Former Vice President Interview — Source of the quote "China just wants to colonize us"↩
  15. ETtoday — Honduras Regrets Severing Ties: China Aid Defaults — April 2025 exposed that China actually delivered $280 million↩
  16. Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Allied Nations — Official update 2026-04-24, list of 12 countries and regional classification↩
  17. Wikipedia — Holy See and Republic of China Relations — Established in 1942, the only non-UN member allied nation↩
  18. Hakka News — Pope Leo XIV Elected 2025-05-08 — First North American-born Pope Robert Francis Prevost↩
  19. PTS News — Lin Chia-lung: Haiti, Holy See Require Special Attention — Original words from March 2025 Public Television interview↩
  20. Presidential Office — President Lai Ching-te Meets Paraguayan President Peña — 2024-05 Peña visited Taiwan to attend the inauguration ceremony↩
  21. CNA — Paraguayan Foreign Minister Visits Taiwan, Stands Firm on Alliance — Ramírez's original words 2024-11-29↩
  22. GVM Magazine — Haiti Crisis — Post-2021-07 Moïse assassination gang rule status↩
  23. Cw CSR — Tuvalu's National Extinction Crisis — IPCC sea-level data and Tuvalu's rise↩
  24. Liberty Times — Tuvalu Climate Visa, 82% of Population Applied — End of 2025 Australian climate visa application data↩
  25. Liberty Times — Strategic Opportunity of Climate Visa — Taiwan and Fiji support Tuvalu's maritime boundary declaration↩
  26. Cw Magazine — Is Eswatini Taiwan's Only Ally in Africa? — Cumulative loss of 10 African allies over 30 years↩
  27. Taronews — Lin Chia-lung Visits Eswatini as President's Special Envoy — 2026-04 Lai Ching-te's plane blocked, Lin Chia-lung sent instead↩
  28. UN Official — Original Chinese Text of Resolution 2758 — Full text of the 1971-10-25 resolution↩
  29. VOA — US Refutes China's Characterization of UN Resolution 2758 — Campbell's 2024-09 congressional testimony and subsequent US positions↩
  30. European Parliament Press Release 2024-10-21 — Official explanation of the European Parliament's anti-2758 distortion resolution↩
  31. Wikipedia — Taiwan and the World Health Organization — WHA observer status 2009-2016, 8-year history↩
  32. Atlantic Council — Lithuania's Policy on China — Full record of Lithuania's economic coercion after setting up the office in 2021↩
  33. Wikipedia — List of Republic of China Overseas Institutions — 113 missions and distribution as of 2025-12↩
  34. Wikipedia — Lithuania-Taiwan relations — Process of opening the Taiwanese Representative Office on 2021-11-18↩
  35. Congress.gov — TAIPEI Act S.1678 — Original text of Pub.L. 116-135 signed by Trump on 2020-03-26↩
  36. Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Visa-Free Information — Statistics 2026-01-30: 177 countries and regions↩
  37. The Diplomat — Silicon Shield 2.0: A Taiwan Perspective — TSMC global high-end chip market share analysis↩
  38. Wikipedia — TSMC Arizona — $165 billion expansion plan of 5 fabs + 2 packaging + 1 R&D↩
  39. Tom's Hardware — TSMC Arizona 3nm Schedule — Arizona Fab 2027 mass production 3nm schedule↩
  40. GMF — Bonnie Glaser Senate Foreign Relations Hearing — Source of the quote "the moment of dependence on TSMC"↩
  41. MIT Technology Review — Taiwan's silicon shield could be weakening — August 2025 silicon shield weakening narrative↩
About this article This article was collaboratively written with AI assistance and community review.
Edit this page Report an issue
Diplomacy Allied Nations International Relations Cross-Strait United Nations Silicon Shield
Share
Back to category Back to home

Further Reading

More in this category

Society

The 2026 Cheng-Xi Meeting: Ten Minutes Between KMT and CCP Leaders After a Decade Apart

On April 10, 2026, Cheng Li-wun met Xi Jinping in Beijing, becoming the first major political party leader of the Republic of China to meet the CCP General Secretary in ten years. The meeting lasted ten minutes. Meanwhile, 100 PLA vessels were in the Taiwan Strait. What exactly was this 'peace mission' touring?

閱讀全文
Society

Becoming a Teacher: Forty Years of Reform and Collapse in Taiwan's Teacher Training System

In February 1994, the Legislative Yuan passed the Teacher Education Act, transforming the monopoly of normal schools into an open, pluralistic system — hailed at the time as a milestone in Taiwan's educational history. Thirty years later, the numbers are sobering: the original nine education universities were merged down to just three; in the 2020 academic year, enrollment shortfalls across teacher training institutions hit an all-time high; the teacher certification pass rate dropped to 52% in recent years; nearly half of teacher candidates treat teacher training as a backup plan; and 42% quit before obtaining their teaching certificates.

閱讀全文
Society

The Breakfast Shop Auntie and the Community Intelligence Network

I seriously thought all aunties ever did was call everyone 'handsome.' This piece is about how breakfast shop aunties become the intelligence hub of their entire community.

閱讀全文
View all Society

Explore Taiwan

More aspects of Taiwan

About

About Taiwan.md — origin story, team, and mission

Start exploring
History

The complete timeline of Taiwan's history from prehistoric times to the present

Start exploring
Geography

Taiwan's natural environment, topographic features, and regional development

Start exploring