Former vice minister of foreign affairs and top envoy to the EU Alexander Yui (俞大㵢) has been appointed representative to the US, replacing Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), who resigned to join Vice President William Lai (賴清德) as his running mate on the Democratic Progressive Party’s presidential ticket.
Hsiao earlier this week returned to Washington to bid farewell to her colleagues and hand over her duties before returning to campaign for January’s elections.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roy Lee (李淳) has been appointed as representative to the EU and Belgium, to succeed Yui, Presidential Office spokeswoman Olivia Lin (林聿禪) said.
Photo: Chen Yun, Taipei Times
“The US is Taiwan’s most important partner in the international community. Both sides have maintained a good friendship and extensive ties in the past few years, while closely collaborating in many sectors,” Lin said.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) appointed Yui based on his diplomatic experience serving in numerous countries over his career, allowing him to immediately step into his new role to further boost Taiwan-US relations, Lin said.
Yui has previously served in Paraguay, Geneva, El Salvador and New York, was head of the foreign ministry’s Department of Latin America and Caribbean Affairs, and was vice foreign minister for about two years.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
He has promoted trilateral links and exchanges among Taiwan, the US and Latin America, helping to expand the scope of Taiwan’s foreign affairs initiatives and establish wide-ranging networks among the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking diplomatic circles of the Americas, Lin said.
Yui has a bachelor’s degree in political science and modern languages, and a master’s degree in Spanish literature from Texas A&M University.
After serving as Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the US for three years, Hsiao tendered her resignation last week, which was approved by Tsai and takes effect today.
Hsiao on Tuesday wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that it had been “an honor” to represent Taiwan in the US.
“As I embark on another challenging path, I am truly grateful to all who have worked with me to strengthen the Taiwan US partnership over the last three years,” she wrote.
“Taiwanese diplomats can never take support for granted. We know we must earn it and work for it,” she said, adding that she would “miss the cherry blossoms and colorful foliage of DC,” as well as “the warmth of bipartisan friends who have committed to stand with Taiwan.”
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old