Edward T.Y. Wu, 86; was ambassador of Taiwan to the Vatican

Edward T.Y. Wu, 86, a former ambassador of Taiwan to the Vatican, died Sunday at Citrus Valley Medical Center in Covina after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Wu, who had lived in West Covina since 1986, was born in Ningbo, China, on May 3, 1920. He was one of 13 children of John C.H. Wu, who helped write the 1947 constitution to establish the Republic of China government on Taiwan under Nationalist Party President Chiang Kai-shek.

After studying law in Shanghai and Rome, Wu followed his father into diplomatic service. In his first posting, in 1950, he helped open a consular office in Madrid. He later served in Taiwanese embassies around the world, including Australia and Bolivia.

He also headed the New York office of Taiwan’s Coordination Council for North American Affairs, which represented Taiwan in the United States after Washington cut ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing.

In his last diplomatic assignment -- from 1993 to 1996 -- Wu, a devout Catholic, helped maintain diplomatic relations with the Vatican as Taiwan’s ambassador despite pressure from China to sever those ties.

The Vatican is the only European state to recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty.