A Taiwanese MP Asks Portugal for an Office in Taipei, Where Portuguese Residents Cannot Register a Marriage or a Birth

A Taiwanese member of parliament has called on Portugal to open an official office in Taipei, arguing that Portuguese citizens living on the island are left without basic services. Lin Chien-Chi, who chairs the Portugal-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group in Taiwan's legislature, made the case in an interview with Lusa on Saturday, Taiwan's national day.

"A representation would have a very practical value," she said. "It could give more direct support to Portuguese citizens in Taiwan, improve communication on administrative and consular matters and create a more efficient channel for cooperation in trade, investment, technology, education, culture and sport."

The gap Portuguese residents face

Like the rest of the European Union, Portugal has not recognised Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, as a sovereign state since 1979; it recognises only the People's Republic of China. Most European countries nonetheless keep some form of office in Taipei that provides services similar to a consulate. Portugal does not, Lusa notes.

The result, according to the agency, is serious red tape for Portuguese residents and for Taiwanese citizens with ties to Portugal: it is not possible to register a marriage, or a child born in Taiwan, with the Portuguese civil registry, because of the lack of official recognition.

Parliament said no in January

The idea has already been put to the Assembleia da República. In January, parliament rejected proposals from the Iniciativa Liberal, PAN and the independent MP Fabian Figueiredo that called for an official Portuguese representation in Taipei and a review of administrative procedures involving Taiwan.

Lin, a member of the Kuomintang, the historic Nationalist party now in opposition, said she wants to use her role to bring the two societies closer, through more visits and contacts between members of both parliaments. She recalled ties that go back to the Portuguese navigators who named the island Formosa, and described relations today as "friendly and full of potential", with room to grow in sport, technology, trade, investment and innovation.

Semiconductors and democracy

She singled out Taiwan's semiconductor industry as the most visible example of the island's place in global supply chains. "The more we cooperate with the world and become part of the solution to common challenges, the harder it will be to exclude Taiwan from the international community," she said.

Saturday marked the 115th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China, and 30 years since Taiwan's first direct presidential election. Lin warned that democratic gains "should not be taken for granted", pointing to political polarisation and disinformation on digital platforms. "Democracy must be protected and renewed by each generation," she said.

Only 12 countries keep full diplomatic relations with Taiwan, among them the Holy See and Paraguay. Taiwan has its own government, currency and armed forces, but remains diplomatically isolated.

What it means

Any change would be a decision for the Portuguese government, which has given no sign of one, and it would sit uneasily with Lisbon's relationship with Beijing. For the small number of Portuguese citizens who live in Taiwan, or marry and have children there, the January vote means the paperwork problem described by Lusa remains unsolved for now.