Taiwan names new ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, envoy to Thailand

Taipei, May 28 (CNA) Taiwan on Wednesday named Edward Tao (陶令文) its new ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis and tapped Peter Lan (藍夏禮) as the nation's top envoy to Thailand.

Tao, a career diplomat whose most recent overseas posting was head of Taiwan's representative office in Brisbane, Australia, will head the embassy in the Caribbean ally, according to a personnel announcement made public by the Executive Yuan Wednesday.

The same announcement said Tao will replace outgoing Ambassador Michael Lin (林昭宏), who took up the post in July 2021.

Meanwhile, the Executive Yuan also announced that Peter Lan (藍夏禮), the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA) Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, will become Taiwan's new representative to Thailand, replacing current envoy Chang Chun-fu (張俊福).

Chang's resignation was approved by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Monday.

Before being appointed head of MOFA's Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in July 2023, Lan served as ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, another Caribbean ally, from 2021 to 2023.

He was also Taiwan's former deputy envoy to Indonesia and spokesperson for Taiwan's representative office in Thailand, as well as head of its political division.

Lan's vacancy in MOFA will be filled by Lin, according to the Executive Yuan personnel announcement.