Taiwan says preparations ‘under way’ to open representative office in Montreal

The self-ruled island has a de facto embassy in Ottawa and two other offices in Canada – in Vancouver and Toronto

It comes after Ottawa released its Indo-Pacific strategy last month, calling Beijing an ‘increasingly disruptive global power’

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Taiwan’s foreign ministry said the two sides “enjoy increasingly close exchanges across a wide range of domains”. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 10:30pm, 20 Dec 2022Updated: 11:21pm, 20 Dec 2022

Taiwan will open a representative office in Montreal, as concerns about Beijing’s rise prompt countries like Canada and those in Europe to embrace the self-ruled island as part of strategies to counter mainland China.

Announcing the move on Tuesday, the island’s foreign ministry said Taiwan and Canada “enjoy increasingly close exchanges across a wide range of domains”.

“After extensive research, the government of Taiwan has decided to establish the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Montreal,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou told reporters in Taipei.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou says the new office will boost cooperation. Photo: Handout

Ou said preparations to open the office in Montreal, Quebec province, were “currently under way” and it would give impetus to further cooperation between the two sides.

While Taiwan does not have formal ties with Canada – it recognises Beijing diplomatically – the island has a de facto embassy in Ottawa and two other representative offices in the country, in Vancouver and Toronto.

Canada is among nations that view mainland China as a growing threat – its long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy, launched in late November, calls Beijing as an “increasingly disruptive global power”.

“China is making large-scale investments to establish its economic influence, diplomatic impact, offensive military capabilities and advanced technologies,” the strategy document says.

“China is looking to shape the international order into a more permissive environment for interests and values that increasingly depart from ours.”