Hungary–Taiwan relations

Hungary–Taiwan relations refer to the relations between Hungary and Taiwan (formally the Republic of China).

Hungarian–Taiwanese relations

Hungary	Taiwan

Hungary and the Republic of China established diplomatic relations in 1940, but these were severed in 1949 after the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC). In 1949, Hungary recognized the PRC, and since then, relations with Taiwan have been conducted on a non-diplomatic level through representative offices that function as de facto embassies.

Although they do not maintain formal diplomatic ties, Hungary and Taiwan have built cooperative links in economics, trade, education, culture, and humanitarian aid.

History

Following World War II, Hungary recognized the Republic of China (ROC) in 1940. After the Chinese Civil War and the ROC government's retreat to Taiwan in 1949, Hungary aligned with the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc in recognizing the People's Republic of China (PRC), thus severing ties with the ROC.

Hungary supported the PRC's accession to the United Nations in 1971, voting in favor of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI), which transferred China's UN seat from Taipei to Beijing.^[1]

Representative offices

On 19 November 1990, Taiwan established the Taipei Business Office in Hungary (台北商務辦事處) in Budapest, which serves as its de facto embassy. The name was later changed in 1995 to Taipei Representative Office, Budapest, Hungary^[2]

In 1990, Hungary established the Hungarian Trade Office, Taipei (駐台北匈牙利貿易辦事處), representing Hungary's official presence in Taiwan.^[3]

Economic relations

Bilateral trade between Hungary and Taiwan has grown steadily since the 1990s.^[4] In 2022, bilateral trade volume reached approximately US$2.5 billion, with Taiwan ranking as one of Hungary's important partners in East Asia.

In 2022, Taiwan's investment in Hungary reached US$1.37 billion.^[5] Taiwanese companies have invested in Hungary's manufacturing and electronics sectors, with Wistron and Foxconn establishing operations in Hungary to serve the European market.

Hungarian exports to Taiwan include pharmaceuticals, machinery, and agricultural products, while Taiwan exports semiconductors, ICT products, and auto parts to Hungary.^[6]

Cultural and educational exchanges

In 2011, Hungary included Taiwan in its global Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Program, allowing Taiwanese students to study at Hungarian universities, providing full scholarships for Taiwanese students to pursue Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programs in Hungary, covering tuition, dormitory, medical insurance, and a monthly stipend.^[7]

Hungarian universities, such as the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, have partnerships with National Taiwan University of Arts, National Chengchi University, and National Central University, fostering collaborations through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), student and faculty exchanges, and joint research opportunities. These initiatives aim to enhance international academic cooperation and build global networks between the two countries and facilitate joint research and academic exchange programs.^[8]

On 18 October 2022, Taiwan's National Central Library and Eötvös Loránd University concluded an agreement to expand collaboration on a union catalog for ancient Chinese books.^[9]

Humanitarian cooperation

In 2020, Taiwan provided humanitarian aid to Hungary during the COVID-19 pandemic, donating 100,000 surgical masks in April 2020.^[10]

In 2022, Taiwan contributed relief funds of US$1.5 million to Hungarian charities for Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, recognizing Hungary's role as a frontline EU member state in providing humanitarian shelter.^[11]

See also

• Foreign relations of Taiwan
• Foreign relations of Hungary
• List of diplomatic missions of Taiwan
• Taiwan–European Union relations