Taiwan appoints new envoys to Fiji, Peru, first representative to Phoenix

Taipei, July 5 (CNA) Taiwan's government has approved a new round of diplomatic appointments, including new representatives to Fiji and Peru, as well as the country's first-ever representative to Phoenix, Arizona.

According to government approvals issued earlier this month, David Wu (吳正偉), currently Taiwan's representative to Sydney, Australia, will become the new representative to Fiji.

Meanwhile, Lu Chao-jui (盧朝睿), deputy director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA) Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, has been appointed Taiwan's new representative to Peru.

The Executive Yuan also approved the appointment of Kevin Chiao (焦國恩) as Taiwan's first representative to Phoenix.

Chiao most recently served as deputy secretary-general of the Taiwan Council for U.S. Affairs (TCUSA), which serves as Taiwan's counterpart to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), and has also been a senior aide to the minister of foreign affairs.

Wu and Lu will succeed Joseph Chow (周進發), the current representative to Fiji, and Francisca Chang (張幼慈), the current representative to Peru. The next assignments for Chow and Chang were not immediately made public.

The appointments come shortly after MOFA announced Friday that it will establish a representative office in Phoenix to deepen Taiwan-U.S. exchanges.

The ministry said Phoenix has become an increasingly important technology hub as Taiwanese semiconductor investment in the city continues to grow. The expansion has been led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), whose Arizona operations have attracted a growing number of Taiwanese suppliers to establish a presence in the region.

MOFA has not yet announced when the new Phoenix office will officially begin operations.