TECRO Profile & Mission

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) is the Republic of China's principal representative office in the United States. As such, TECRO in the United States is responsible for maintaining and developing bilateral relations between Taiwan and the United States. TECRO is headed by Ambassador Pu-tsung King with support from Deputy Representative Jacob Chang and Deputy Representative Leo Lee.

TECRO oversees 12 offices known as Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices, or TECOs, in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Guam, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.

TECRO has a Political Division, a Congressional Liaison Division, a Consular Division, an Administrative Division, a Press Division, a Cultural Division, an Economic Division, a Science and Technology Division, a Defense Liaison Division, and a Defense Procurement Division. These units are responsible for managing different aspects of the bilateral relationship between Taiwan and the United States.

The Political Division deals with political matters in relations between the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan and the United States. It thus maintains contact with the U.S. executive branch, political parties, think tanks, scholars, experts and relevant organizations.

The Congressional Liaison Division promotes relations between the ROC on Taiwan and the United States through regular contacts with the U.S. Congress and exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries.

The Consular Division issues passports to ROC citizens and visas to people who wish to travel to Taiwan. The division serves ROC nationals and Chinese-American communities in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia. The division also promotes relations with local governments in the aforementioned states and the District of Columbia.

The Administrative Division handles administrative and logistical support for TECRO.

The Press Division promotes better understanding between the ROC on Taiwan and the United States by providing information about Taiwan, explaining the policies of the ROC government, and sponsoring media cooperation and exchanges between the two countries. The director of the Press Division also serves as the spokesperson for TECRO.

The Cultural Division promotes cooperation between educational and academic institutions in the ROC on Taiwan and their counterparts in the United States. The division also promotes cultural exchange between the ROC on Taiwan and the U.S. and provides educational and cultural information about the ROC on Taiwan, especially as it relates to study opportunities in Taiwan.

The Economic Division promotes economic and trade relations between the ROC on Taiwan and the United States through contacts with the government and private sector in the United States.

The Science and Technology Division promotes cooperation between the ROC on Taiwan and the United States in the fields of science and technology and assists in cooperative and exchange programs between the scientists of both countries.

The Defense Liaison Division (DLD) handles defense and security affairs between the ROC on Taiwan and the United States.

The Defense Procurement Division handles procurement matters in the United States as authorized by the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China.

The Twin Oaks Estate

The Twin Oaks Estate is situated atop a hill on a parcel of land once owned by a one-legged Revolutionary War general. A 26-room mansion that served as the official residence of nine ambassadors from the Republic of China (ROC) between 1937 and 1978 and which still belongs to the ROC government in Taiwan.