The Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to make any comment yesterday on reports that Douglas Paal, a former White House national security aide, may be the next US representative to Taiwan.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Chang Siao-yue (張小月) said it is the ministry's policy to refrain from commenting on speculation about any US government personnel reshuffle.
Chang also said that the ministry has not yet received information about a possible shake-up of the leadership of the Taipei office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which represents US interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.
Local media reported yesterday that Paal, who served as an Asia-Pacific affairs adviser with the White House National Security Council during the era of former president George Bush, may replace Raymond Burghardt as the AIT Taipei office chief.
Chang would not confirm the report, but she said that Paal is familiar with Taiwan's general situation.
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