The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF; ; often abbreviated 海基會 / 海基会) is a semi-official organization set up by the Republic of China

Republic of China

The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...

 (Taiwan

Taiwan

Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...

) government to handle technical or business matters with the People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

. Though technically a private organization, it is funded by the government and controlled by the Mainland Affairs Council

Mainland Affairs Council

The Mainland Affairs Council is a cabinet-level administrative agency under the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China. The MAC is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of policies between the Free Area of the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, and the People's...

 of the Executive Yuan

Executive Yuan

The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...

.

Its counterpart in the PRC is the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits

Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits

The Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits is an organization set up by the People's Republic of China for handling technical or business matters with the Republic of China ....

.

List of chairmen

Name	Term
Koo Chen-fu Koo Chen-fu Koo Chen-fu , was a Taiwanese businessman and diplomat. He led the Koos Group of companies from 1940 until his death. As a chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation , Koo arranged the first direct talks between Taiwan and China since 1949 and served as Taiwan's negotiator in both the 1993 and...	1990-2005
Chang Chun-hsiung Chang Chun-hsiung Chang Chun-hsiung , born March 23, 1938, a politician in Taiwan, is a former Premier of the Republic of China. Chang was appointed to two separate terms as Premier, both under Chen Shui-bian...	2005-2007
Hung Chi-chang	2007-2008
Chiang Pin-kung Chiang Pin-kung Chiang Pin-kung is a politician in the Republic of China on Taiwan. He is currently vice-chairman of the Kuomintang , and chairman of Straits Exchange Foundation .-Biography:...	2008-incumbent

See also

• political status of Taiwan
  Political status of Taiwan
  The controversy regarding the political status of Taiwan hinges on whether Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu should remain effectively independent as territory of the Republic of China , become unified with the territories now governed by the People's Republic of China , or formally declare...
  
  
• Koo Chen-fu
  Koo Chen-fu
  Koo Chen-fu , was a Taiwanese businessman and diplomat. He led the Koos Group of companies from 1940 until his death. As a chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation , Koo arranged the first direct talks between Taiwan and China since 1949 and served as Taiwan's negotiator in both the 1993 and...
  
  
• 1992 Consensus
  1992 Consensus
  The 1992 Consensus or Consensus of 1992 is a term describing the outcome of a meeting in 1992 between the semi-official representatives of the People's Republic of China in mainland China and the Republic of China in Taiwan...
  
  
• Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), China
  Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits
  The Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits is an organization set up by the People's Republic of China for handling technical or business matters with the Republic of China ....