Paal meets officials, business leaders

Director of the American Institute in Taiwan Douglas Paal toasts a roomful of guests at a formal reception at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei yesterday. PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

More than two-and-a-half months after coming on board, US de facto ambassador to Taiwan Douglas Paal held a formal reception in a downtown hotel yesterday, drawing a roomful of officials, business leaders, academics and Taipei-based foreign diplomats.

In brief remarks at the beginning of the reception, held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown Taipei, Paal expressed his appreciation for what he termed the "kindness and friendliness" he has received since reaching Taipei.

"Since arriving here on July 1, I was a little bit busier than what I had expected," said Paal, director of the Taipei office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

Paal has been lobbying high-ranking Taiwanese officials over the past few weeks to secure Chicago-based Boeing Co's chance of securing a China Airlines Co (華航) purchase order worth an estimated US$2 billion.

Paal said he appreciated the friendliness he has received from old and new friends since his arrival, ranging from the welcome from his "old professor" at CKS airport, to the amiable gestures made by ordinary people, including those he met while playing golf.

"Since arriving here on July 1, I was a little bit busier than what I had expected."

Douglas Paal, director of the AIT

Paal's comment referring to himself as a "golf person" drew smiles and laughter from his guests.

The "old professor" Paal referred to was Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (高英茂), who once taught Paal when he was a student of Asian history at Brown University more than 30 years ago.

After proposing a toast to the health of his guests, to the health of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and to the well-being and prosperity of Taiwan, Paal then went around the spacious ballroom chatting with his guests.

As Paal wrapped up his brief address, the limited media officials invited to cover his talk were requested to leave.

But veteran AIT staffers said it's the first time that the media have been invited to cover such a reception.

Guests at the reception included Kau, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council Antonio Chang (江春男), Vice Minister of National Defense Kang Ning-hsiang (康寧祥), Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南), Speaker of the Legislative Yuan Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and Jeffrey Koo (辜濂松), chairman of Chinatrust Commercial Bank.