U.S. silent on apparent departure of AIT head

Washington, Feb. 5 (CNA) The United States government has declined to comment on a post that indicated the departure of Laura Rosenberger as chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

Neither the U.S. State Department nor the AIT has responded to CNA's questions on the matter, after Rosenberger was listed as a former chair on the AIT's official website, with her tenure marked as 2023 to 2025.

American officials have said previously that they usually do not comment on personnel changes within the government.

Rosenberger was appointed head of the AIT in 2023, during the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden, and she had visited Taiwan at least six times over the past two years.

Her most recent visit was in May 2024, when she attended the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), alongside former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and former AIT Chair Richard Bush.

Rosenberger's last tweet as AIT chair was in December 2024, when she wrote a message welcoming Lai during his transit stop in Hawaii. At the time, she was on maternity leave, and Ingrid Larson, managing director of the AIT's Washington office, handled Lai's reception.

It remains unclear whether Rosenberger's apparent departure is related to U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement on Jan. 21 via Truth Social that he planned to dismiss over 1,000 Biden-era appointees.

Before heading the AIT, Rosenberger held senior U.S. government positions related to cross-Taiwan Strait affairs and national security. Her titles included Special Assistant to the President, and Senior Director for China and Taiwan on the National Security Council.

Taiwanese officials have not commented on Rosenberger's apparent departure as head of the AIT.