The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (Chinese: 駐美國臺北經濟文化代表處; pinyin: Zhù Měiguó Táiběi Jīngjì Wénhuà Dàibiǎo Chù) represents the interests of Taiwan in the United States in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, functioning as a de facto embassy.
[1] Prior to 1979, the Republic of China (Taiwan) was represented in Washington by its embassy, occupying the building now used by Haiti.
[2] After the transfer of recognition to the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China was no longer recognized by the United States, and therefore no longer entitled to use the former embassy, with its diplomatic mission replaced by the current Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office.
The mission serves as the office of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs (CCNAA) in Washington, D.C., established in 1979 as the counterpart to the American Institute in Taiwan, after the United States established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.
Lee, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, who was secretary-general in Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs until July, for lunch in New York City in what was the first meeting between a top Taiwan official and a United States ambassador to the United Nations.