Taiwan names new ambassador to Palau

Taipei, Nov. 17 (CNA) Taiwan's government approved the appointment of Andy Chen (陳剛毅), the foreign ministry's chief liaison officer to the Legislative Yuan, as the country's new ambassador to Palau on Monday.

Chen, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA) Office of Parliamentarian Affairs since February, will replace sitting ambassador Jessica Lee (黎倩儀), who is heading back to MOFA headquarters in Taipei.

Lee became the top envoy in the Pacific island country in October 2021.

Chen, who received his bachelor's degree in Arabic Language and Culture from National Chengchi University, previously served as Taiwan's representative to Oman (2021-2022), and head of Taiwan's office in Vancouver (2018-2021), Brunei and the Philippines.

Palau is one of 12 countries around the world that maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei instead of Beijing.