Taiwan's envoy to EU appointed representative to U.S.

Taipei, Nov. 29 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has appointed Alexander Yui (俞大㵢), the country's representative to the European Union and Belgium, as its representative to the United States, the Presidential Office said in a press release on Wednesday evening.

Yui, who assumed his role in the EU less than six months ago, will fill the post left vacant by the vice presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), according to Presidential Office spokeswoman Lin Yu-chan (林聿禪).

The U.S. is Taiwan's most important partner and the two sides have worked in close collaboration in recent years, Lin said.

President Tsai has expressed hope that Yui, with extensive experience in diplomatic affairs across different regions, will ensure continued cooperation between Taipei and Washington and further contribute to the deepening of bilateral ties, she added.

Prior to being posted to Europe, Yui served as deputy foreign minister for about two years. He was previously posted to Paraguay, Geneva in Switzerland, Taiwan's former ally El Salvador, and New York.

He holds a bachelor's degree in political science and modern languages and a master's degree in Spanish literature from Texas A&M University.

Hsiao, having served as the Republic of China's (Taiwan) de-facto ambassador to the U.S. for three years, tendered her resignation last Monday to run in the 2024 presidential elections.

Her resignation was approved on Tuesday and will officially take effect Thursday, according to an order issued by the Presidential Office.

On Wednesday, the Presidential Office also said Deputy Foreign Minister Roy Lee (李淳) was appointed as Taiwan's envoy to the EU and Belgium, thus replacing Yui.

Lee has served as deputy foreign minister since February. He is currently also a deputy trade representative of the Cabinet's Office of Trade Negotiations.

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