TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The new administration of President Tsai Ing-wen has chosen Stanley Kao, the current envoy to Italy, to represent Taiwan in the United States, reports said Saturday.
Kao’s name had already been mentioned in the media, but his appointment was only finalized after Tsai and her government were sworn in Friday, reports said.
Outgoing representative to Washington Shen Lyu-shun had tendered his resignation last April 15, but President Ma Ying-jeou did not sign off on it, instead letting Tsai make the decision, reports said.
Shen’s departure forms part of a whole string of retirements and resignations, including Taiwan’s representatives to Japan, Great Britain, Singapore and Latvia, according to media reports.
Since Shen’s retirement had already been approved for June 5, Kao would be able to take up his new position relatively quickly, reports said.
Kao, 64, has been identified as close to the new secretary-general of the National Security Council, Joseph Wu. When Wu served as Taiwan’s representative to the U.S. under President Chen Shui-bian, Kao was his deputy.
The diplomat headed the Department of North American Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and represented Taiwan at the World Health Organization and in Hungary respectively.
While unofficial relations between Taipei and Washington are cordial, issues likely to crop up are the import of U.S. pork with residues of leanness drugs and arms supplies.
The only other major diplomatic announcement already made by the new administration included the naming of former Premier Frank Hsieh as representative to Japan. There were unconfirmed media reports Saturday that the new envoy to London would be David Lin, who served as foreign minister until Friday.
Taiwan to replace envoy to U.S.
