In recent years, Taiwan’s relationship with Romania has been steadily developing, with parliamentary diplomacy playing a particularly visible role. Rather than formal treaties or high-level summits, it has been the sustained work of legislators that has given bilateral ties a new momentum.
Last month illustrated that point. Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China Romanian cochair Cristian Ghinea led a cross-party delegation to Taiwan. The delegation emphasized Romania’s willingness to facilitate the establishment of representative offices in Taipei and Bucharest.
For Taiwan, such a statement is politically significant. Even if the road ahead would be complicated, the fact that voices in European parliaments are advocating for concrete steps toward representation shows that Taiwan is finding new partners who are willing to speak up.
The groundwork for this visit could be traced back to last year, when Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) launched the Taiwan-Balkans Parliamentary Friendship Association. Romanian Senator Catalin-Daniel Fenechiu, chair of the Romania-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, had traveled to Taipei to attend the inauguration.
Fenechiu later expressed special thanks to Taiwan for its assistance to Ukraine through the National Association of the Romanian Bar. In doing so, he highlighted that Taiwan and Romania could cooperate not only in bilateral relations, but also in helping countries in need, an approach that resonates strongly in today’s international environment.
From this perspective, Romania’s broader importance comes into sharper focus. It is the largest country in the Balkans and the sixth-most populous member of the EU; it also shares NATO’s longest border with Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion in 2022, Romania has hosted nearly 200,000 Ukrainian refugees and acted as a crucial logistics hub for humanitarian assistance. At the same time, Romania’s political orientation remains firmly pro-EU and pro-US, which enhances its credibility within transatlantic networks.
For Taiwan, this means that building ties with Romania is not simply about bilateral friendship; it also creates channels into the wider European and NATO frameworks where Romania’s voice carries weight.
In parallel with political ties, economic engagement has also been developing. Despite lacking a representative office in Bucharest, Taiwanese companies such as Asustek and Acer operate there, while GreenGroup, which was founded by a Taiwanese entrepreneur, has become one of Europe’s largest recyclers. Trade remains modest, yet semiconductors, routers and integrated circuits lead Taiwan’s exports, with Romania providing wood, tires, and steel pipes. This economic complementarity offers a foundation for bolstering future political relations.
Building on this economic base, the most immediate and visible area for cooperation is Ukraine. Romania’s role in sheltering refugees and supporting humanitarian operations complements Taiwan’s record of financial aid and reconstruction efforts.
Furthermore, by combining resources, the two countries could design joint initiatives in medical assistance, education or digital infrastructure, amplifying their impact in ways that neither could achieve alone.
More importantly, such collaboration would demonstrate how geographically distant democracies could coordinate effectively when responding to global crises.
Finally, some Romanian lawmakers have gone further by suggesting the idea of a Taiwan-US-Romania strategic triangle. Although this remains more aspirational than institutional, the proposal reflects an emerging reality: Taiwan and Romania maintain close ties with the US and both face similar challenges from authoritarian powers. If cultivated, this alignment could evolve into trilateral cooperation on technology, trade security or humanitarian policy.
The visit of Romanian parliamentarians to Taipei last month should therefore be seen as part of a longer trajectory. It is not an isolated gesture, but the continuation of exchanges that are gradually reshaping Taiwan’s engagement in Central and Eastern Europe.
At a time when democratic solidarity is under strain, the emergence of Romania as a consistent partner for Taiwan is a development that deserves close attention.
Gahon Chiang is a congressional staff member in the Committee of Foreign Affairs and National Defense, focusing on Taiwan’s national security policy.
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