The Taiwan Commercial Office in Tripoli (Chinese: 台灣駐的黎波里商務代表處; pinyin: Táiwān Zhù Dílíbōlǐ Shāngwù) represents the interests of Taiwan in Libya in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, functioning as a de facto embassy. A trade office was first established in Tripoli in 1980, after the government of Muammar Gaddafi established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1978, but this was closed in 1997. During the Civil War in Libya during 2011, the Office was closed. The Office is headed by a Representative, currently Ma Chao-yuan.