# Government Information Office, Executive Yuan

> government agency

**Wikidata**: [Q1063040](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1063040)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Information_Office)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/government-information-office-executive-yuan

## Summary
The **Government Information Office (GIO)**, Executive Yuan, was a government agency of Taiwan responsible for public information, international communication, and media relations. Established in 1947, it operated under the Executive Yuan until its dissolution in 2012, when it was replaced by the Department of Information Services.

## Key Facts
- **Established**: May 2, 1947, in Nan-ching (Nanjing), China.
- **Dissolved**: May 20, 2012, replaced by the **Department of Information Services, Executive Yuan**.
- **Parent Organization**: Executive Yuan (the executive branch of Taiwan’s government).
- **Headquarters**: Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan.
- **Official Name**: 行政院新聞局 (Xíngzhèng Yuàn Xīnwén Jú).
- **Aliases**: GIO, Republic of China Government Information Office, Ministry of Information, Hsing cheng yüan. Hsin wen chü, 新聞局.
- **Website**: [http://taiwaninfo.nat.gov.tw/](http://taiwaninfo.nat.gov.tw/) (in Standard Taiwanese Mandarin).
- **Logo**: [ROC Government Information Office logo since December 2001](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/ROC_Government_Information_Office_logo_since_December_2001.png).
- **International Identifiers**:
  - **ISNI**: 0000000103574358, 0000000114027448
  - **VIAF ID**: 154794613, 139012758, 252319143
  - **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n50058139
  - **National Library of Korea ID**: KAB202011129
  - **MusicBrainz Label ID**: 88b17de2-22f1-462c-b1cb-a898c6fd09ae
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Available in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, German, and Commons.
- **Jurisdiction**: Taiwan (Republic of China).

## FAQs

### **What was the role of the Government Information Office?**
The GIO served as Taiwan’s primary agency for public information dissemination, international media relations, and government communication. It managed official statements, press releases, and cultural promotion both domestically and abroad.

### **When was the GIO dissolved, and what replaced it?**
The GIO was dissolved on **May 20, 2012**, and its functions were transferred to the **Department of Information Services, Executive Yuan**, as part of a government restructuring.

### **Where was the GIO headquartered?**
Its headquarters were located in **Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan**, the political and administrative center of the country.

### **What were some of the GIO’s alternative names?**
The agency was also known as:
- **Ministry of Information**
- **Nationalist Chinese Ministry of Information**
- **Hsing cheng yüan. Hsin wen chü** (Chinese romanization)
- **Oficina de Informacion del Gobierno de la Republica de China** (Spanish)

### **How was the GIO identified in international databases?**
It held multiple authority control identifiers, including:
- **ISNI**: 0000000103574358
- **VIAF**: 154794613
- **Library of Congress**: n50058139
- **National Library of Korea**: KAB202011129

## Why It Matters
The Government Information Office played a crucial role in shaping Taiwan’s public image during a period of significant political and diplomatic challenges. As the primary conduit for government communication, it managed media relations during Taiwan’s transition from authoritarian rule to democracy. Its dissolution in 2012 reflected broader administrative reforms aimed at streamlining government functions. Historically, the GIO was instrumental in countering disinformation, promoting Taiwanese culture globally, and ensuring transparency in government operations.

## Notable For
- **First government agency in Taiwan dedicated to public information and media relations** (founded 1947).
- **Managed Taiwan’s international communication** during the Cold War and post-martial law era.
- **Held multiple international authority identifiers**, reflecting its global recognition in library and research systems.
- **Operated a multilingual website** (Taiwanese Mandarin, English, and other languages) for global outreach.
- **Predecessor to the modern Department of Information Services**, influencing Taiwan’s current media governance structure.

## Body

### **History and Establishment**
The **Government Information Office (GIO)** was founded on **May 2, 1947**, in **Nan-ching (Nanjing)**, shortly before the Republic of China government relocated to Taiwan. Initially established as the **Ministry of Information**, it was later reorganized under the **Executive Yuan** as the primary agency for government communication.

During the **martial law period (1949–1987)**, the GIO played a key role in controlling media narratives and disseminating official government positions. After Taiwan’s democratization, its functions expanded to include **international public relations, cultural promotion, and crisis communication**.

### **Organizational Structure and Leadership**
The GIO operated under the **Executive Yuan**, Taiwan’s highest administrative body. Its headquarters were in **Zhongzheng District, Taipei**, a central location for government operations.

The agency was led by a **minister-level official** and comprised divisions handling:
- **Press relations**
- **International media outreach**
- **Public diplomacy**
- **Cultural and educational promotion**

### **Dissolution and Succession**
On **May 20, 2012**, the GIO was **dissolved** as part of a government efficiency initiative. Its responsibilities were transferred to the **Department of Information Services, Executive Yuan**, which continues to manage Taiwan’s public information strategies.

### **International Recognition and Identifiers**
The GIO was registered in multiple global authority databases, including:
- **ISNI**: 0000000103574358 (assigned 2018-10-07)
- **VIAF (Virtual International Authority File)**: 154794613, 139012758, 252319143
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n50058139
- **National Library of Korea ID**: KAB202011129
- **MusicBrainz Label ID**: 88b17de2-22f1-462c-b1cb-a898c6fd09ae

These identifiers ensured the GIO’s records were accessible in academic and library systems worldwide.

### **Multilingual and Global Outreach**
The GIO maintained an **official website** ([http://taiwaninfo.nat.gov.tw/](http://taiwaninfo.nat.gov.tw/)) in **Standard Taiwanese Mandarin**, with content also available in English and other languages. Its **Wikipedia presence** spanned multiple languages, including:
- **English**
- **Chinese (zh)**
- **Japanese (ja)**
- **Korean (ko)**
- **Spanish (es)**
- **German (de)**

### **Cultural and Media Influence**
The GIO was responsible for:
- **Producing official government publications**
- **Managing international media inquiries**
- **Promoting Taiwanese culture abroad**
- **Countering misinformation during political crises**

Its **logo**, introduced in **December 2001**, remains an archived symbol of Taiwan’s government communication efforts.

### **Legacy and Impact**
Though dissolved, the GIO’s work laid the foundation for modern Taiwanese public diplomacy. Its successor, the **Department of Information Services**, continues its mission with updated digital strategies. The GIO’s historical role in **media control, international relations, and cultural promotion** remains a key subject in studies of Taiwan’s political evolution.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. CiNii Research
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. MusicBrainz
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File