Relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Republic of China, formerly the Qing dynasty, date back to 1909. Since 1972, the political status and legal status of Taiwan have been contentious issues. Australia and Taiwan share partnership in the inter-governmental Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) activities.
Australia's current position towards Taiwan is largely based on the Joint Communiqué with the People's Republic of China signed by the Whitlam Labor government in 1972 on the outcome of UN Resolution 2758 as international situation turned against ROC, even though Australia voted supporting Republic of China's seat in the UN instead of Communist China. Under this agreement, the Australian government diplomatically recognises the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the 'sole legitimate government of China', and do not recognise the ROC as a sovereign state, while merely acknowledging Beijing's position that "Taiwan was a province of the PRC".
As of April 2022, only 13 UN member states and the Holy See officially recognized Taiwan. The Joint Communiqué establishes ‘(diplomatic) guidelines for official Australian contact with Taiwan,’ explicitly stating that Australia 'does not (diplomatically) consider Taiwan (the unofficial name of ROC) to have the status of national government.' Despite the Australian government not having an official diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, an official Bilateral Economic Consultation is held annually by high-ranking Ministry of Economy officials of both sides and there is a substantial unofficial relationship has developed through cultural and trade links, however, other than conventional industry, Australian firms rely on a mature international financial market to capitalise from the strong scientific/growing technical research due to high tax rate in Australia, and Taiwan does not have this attribute, but Taiwan's highly Americanized specialist workforce may assist Australia's firms to internationalise the vision, especially with the competency on analytical research. Therefore, it is likely Taiwan may benefit from the relations with Australia on University spin-off rather than research spin-off. On international trade, Australia and Taiwan are complementary.
Trade
Taiwan and Australia have developed strong economic and trade links, with Taiwan currently being Australia's ninth largest customer for exports. The value of exports between both Australia and Taiwan equates to more than A$12 billion. The Australia-Taiwan Business Council is based in Sydney, and Taiwan has an official, government-sponsored branch office of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council in Sydney.
History
Before 1972
As Taiwan was under Japanese control, prior to 1941, relations between the Republic of China and Australia were described as 'episodic.' One reason for this was Australia's reliance on Britain, as it was only in 1923 that Britain had granted its dominions permission to conclude treaties with foreign countries. Subsequently, Australia sent its first Minister Plenipotentiary to China, Sir Frederic Eggleston on 20 October 1941. The embassy based in Chungking was the third such post when Australia gained its on external affairs and already had diplomatic missions to London and Washington.
Australia's relations with the ROC between 1949 and 1971 operated in a political environment which has been coined the 'China question', a term used to encompass the 'contest between two rival authorities, each claiming to represent the one China.' Since 1949, China has insisted that Taiwan is part of the PRC, while the ROC on Taiwan contends that it is an independent state which was subjected to controversy after Japan surrendered at World War II. From 1949 to 1971, Taiwan and its affiliated organisations and conventions were represented in the UN by officials of the 'Republic of China in Taipei.' Under this title, Taiwan entered into and became a party to a number of multilateral treaties and conventions sponsored by the UN and other bodies, despite certain countries, predominantly in the Eastern bloc, opposing Taiwan's legal ability to enter into such arrangements.