MAC's Wu to replace Lee as representative to US

Joseph Wu is seen in this file photo taken on March 8. PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) will replace David Lee (李大維) as the country's representative to the US and Lee will be transferred to head the country's mission in Canada, the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister paper) has learned.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is likely to officially announce the reshuffle sometimes this week, sources said, adding that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) had informed the US government of the personnel change via diplomatic channels and had recently received a positive reply from the US.

Wu and Lee will assume their new posts by the middle of next month at the latest, the sources said.

De-facto ambassador to Canada Chen Tong-pi (陳東璧) will retire after Lee replaces him.

Upon assuming his new post, Wu will be the country's first Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) representative to the US.

Wu will do well in his new post as a result of his familiarity with diplomatic affairs, said a high-ranking DPP official who declined to be identified.

Sources said Lee had been informed of his new post and was glad about the new challenge as there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of the diplomatic relationship between Taiwan and Canada.