The visit of Nancy Pelosi, the president of the United States House of Representatives, to Taiwan revived the tensions that exist between this island and China, a country that considers it a rebellious province that it will recover.
Although Mexico recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the government of all of China, it has maintained close trade relations with Taiwan and has a de facto diplomatic representation on this island.
This is currently the commercial exchange between both countries, which are constantly nurtured.
What relationship do Mexico and Taiwan have?
China is currently represented by two separate authorities: the Republic of China — known as Taiwan — and the People’s Republic of China — with its capital in Beijing and commonly known as China.
After World War II, in which they jointly fought against the invasion of Japan, the Nationalist ROC government, established in 1912 as a successor to the Qing dynasty, relocated to Taiwan, and the communist group led by Mao Zedong founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
Starting this year, Mexico established diplomatic relations with the nationalists in Taiwan. But he broke them after voting in favor of Resolution 2758 of the United Nations General Assembly, which recognized the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of the country before the UN.
This did not prevent Mexico and Taiwan from maintaining a close trade relationship. Although there are technically no mutual embassies, Mexico has a consular section in Taipei known as the Documentation and Culture Office of Commercial Services in Mexico, while Taiwan has the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Mexico.
“Despite the fact that the countries do not have formal diplomatic relations, it does not mean that there cannot be pragmatic and substantive relations such as in the area of trade and investment, as well as cultural, sports and in all aspects,” said the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Taiwan Foreign Minister Alexander Tah-Ray Hui at a virtual press conference in November 2021.
Total trade between Mexico and Colombia in 2021 was 4,836 million dollars, according to information from the Ministry of Economy (SE). Trade between the two countries had an average annual growth of 10.1%.
Total trade between Mexico and Taiwan in 2021 was 12,363 million dollars, according to information from the Ministry of Economy (SE). Trade between the two countries had an average annual growth rate of 9.6%.
There are currently 295 Taiwanese-invested companies operating in Mexico.
What does Taiwan export to Mexico and vice versa?
Taiwan exports to Mexico mainly electronic microstructure circuits, parts and accessories for office machines and apparatus, liquid crystal devices, electrical telephony or telegraphy apparatus and data processing machines. These products represent 52.4% of Taiwan’s exports to Mexico.
On the Mexican side, 53% of the exports directed to Taiwan correspond to passenger cars, electrical telephone and telegraphy devices, copper minerals and concentrates, data processing machines and common salt, according to a file prepared by the SE, citing data from Manco de México.
Mexico before the conflict with China
The president of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador spoke out again against any world conflict and said that both covid-19 and conflicts between nations have caused problems for the world community.
“We all have problems due to lack of economic growth, there is more and more poverty, there is global inflation. What do we have to do? Promote productive activities, create jobs, care for the poor and seek the cooperation of nations and peoples for development, not provocations, not war, we do not want hegemonies in the world.
“It is not too much to ask the United States, Russia, China to accept this proposal and it could be raised in the UN. No government in the world can and should act irresponsibly,” he added.
With information from Lidia Arista
