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Despite earlier aspirations, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te will not attend the funeral of Pope Francis. Taiwan’s foreign ministry had previously identified this as their “most important aim” in discussions with the Vatican. Instead, former Vice President Chen Chien-jen will represent Taiwan as a special envoy at the Pope’s funeral, a decision that means a serving government official will not be present, even though the Vatican remains one of Taiwan’s few diplomatic allies.
Taiwan Sends Special Envoy to Pope’s Funeral
On Wednesday, the ministry announced that Chen Chien-jen, who has cultivated strong connections with the Vatican and previously met Pope Francis six times, would serve as the special envoy. However, the delegation lacks a current government representative, highlighting the delicate diplomatic situation for Taiwan.
Limited Recognition for Taiwan
Only a handful of nations, including the Vatican, recognize Taiwan as a sovereign country. China actively works to isolate Taiwan from international organizations, limiting opportunities for Taiwan’s president to engage with global leaders.
Negotiations Regarding Attendance
Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung had previously indicated that the government was in communication with the Vatican regarding President Lai’s potential attendance. Wu stated on Wednesday that securing Lai’s presence was the foreign ministry’s top priority. He noted that the Vatican had “considerations” regarding Taiwan’s representation, as well as its own “international relations,” without specifying further.
Vatican’s Perspective
“The Church conducts its own diplomacy; I cannot provide answers on their behalf,” Wu explained. He made these remarks outside Taipei’s Catholic Archdiocese, where he accompanied President Lai to pay respects to Pope Francis. Lai did not address the media. Later that day, Wu informed reporters that Chen was “the optimal choice given the present circumstances.”
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Historical Precedents: Taiwan’s Presence at Vatican Events
Past Taiwanese leaders have participated in significant Vatican ceremonies. Former President Ma Ying-jeou attended Pope Francis’ inaugural mass in 2013. His predecessor, Chen Shui-bian, represented Taiwan at the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005, where he was seated under Taiwan’s official name, “Republic of China.”
- Chen Shui-bian’s attendance marked the first European visit by a sitting Taiwanese president, according to Taiwan’s then-ambassador to the Vatican.
China’s Stance on Taiwan and Vatican Relations
The government of China asserts its claim over Taiwan as a province, prohibiting other countries from maintaining formal diplomatic ties with both Beijing and Taipei. The majority of nations have established relations with China, with some altering their allegiance depending on diplomatic efforts and incentives offered by both Taiwan and China. Taiwan’s remaining allies consist primarily of small island nations within the Pacific and Caribbean regions.
Relations between China and the Vatican have seemingly improved under Pope Francis, who oversaw controversial agreements with Beijing concerning the appointment of Catholic bishops in China. The Chinese government maintains that such appointments fall under its sovereign rights and require government approval.
Beijing did not offer public condolences to the Vatican until a foreign ministry press conference held on Tuesday.
“In recent years, China and the Vatican have sustained constructive engagement, engaged in beneficial exchanges, and maintained extensive communication on international matters,” stated ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun to reporters.
Future Prospects: Pope’s Visit to China
Guo was questioned about Pope Francis’ repeated expressions of his desire to visit China and meet with its leaders, and whether severing ties with Taiwan was a condition for any future pontiff contemplating such a visit. He responded that Taiwan is “an inalienable component of China’s territory.” He declined to confirm whether China intended to send a delegation to the Pope’s funeral.