Sources in Washington said that William Stanton, the US deputy chief of mission to Seoul, is no longer at the top of the list to replace American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Stephen Young when he steps down this summer.
The sources, who spoke on condition of strict anonymity, said Stanton's name had been withdrawn by the US State Department as a result of pressure from congressional members.
From the start, the State Department has refused to comment on the pending appointment and declined to confirm that Stanton was ever their candidate of choice or that he has been dropped.
“It's more than gossip and rumor, but I have not seen anything in writing,” one diplomatic source said.
“The word we are getting is that Stanton is no longer in the running,” a congressional source said.
Stanton came under fire in April after he allegedly made highly insensitive comments about two US journalists — Taiwanese American Laura Ling (凌志美) and Korean-American Euna Lee — who were arrested by the North Koreans on charges that they illegally entered the country.
He was said to have told a group of young congressional staff members visiting the embassy in Seoul that the women were “stupid” and that their case was “distracting from bigger issues.”
Earlier this week both women were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor and US President Barack Obama has become personally involved in trying to win their freedom.
US media have praised the pair's bravery and courage.
Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, touched on the subject in a speech she was scheduled to deliver before a Heritage Foundation conference on Taiwan in Washington on Tuesday.
Because of a last minute scheduling conflict, Ros-Lehtinen was unable to attend the conference, but much of her speech was read by a senior staff member.
“One matter I wish to address, which was omitted in the original Taiwan Relations Act, is the desirability of having Senate confirmation required for the position of Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, as one would with any Ambassadorial position,” the statement read.
“[Former congressman] Mr [Tom] Tancredo put forward such legislation in the past Congress and I have heard that the Taiwan Congressional Caucus may consider similar legislation in the future,” it said.
“This would not only enhance Taiwan's desire for more international space but would also ensure that only the most qualified individuals are considered for the position,” it said.
“Not only has there been controversy about certain past directors, but my understanding is that the current leading candidate for that position made insensitive remarks about our two US citizens in North Korea sentenced only yesterday to years in the North Korean gulag, referring to them as 'stupid.' Is this the kind of representation we want in such a critical posting as Taipei?” the statement said.
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