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AIT denies Paal is leaving post

American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Douglas Paal yesterday dismissed a Chinese-language newspaper report that he may leave AIT to take a job in the White House.

The report said Paal applied for the job change of his own initiative and that the US State Department has not made a final decision on the application.

"While the AIT does not comment on letters relating to its operation of personnel, I will say that the reports are not true," AIT spokeswoman Judith Mudd-Krijgelmans said in a brief statement.

Paal, who delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the World Trade Organization Center at the Chung Hua Institution for Economic Research yesterday, declined to answer questions about the report.

The report said the US government is not pleased with Paal's efforts to secure his country's commercial interests in Taiwan. It also said Paal's relationship with Taiwanese officials has been poor.

Although Paal refused to talk to reporters, an official sitting close to Paal during the ceremony said Paal, after reading the report, remarked he didn't know what the story was talking about.

The report claimed national security officials in Taiwan have confirmed there might be a personnel shuffle at AIT.

However, a source in the Presidential Office described the report as "groundless" and "sentimental."

"I have never heard of this matter before," the source said.

In the WTO Center's opening ceremony, Paal encouraged Taiwan, after 12 years' hard work to enter the global trade body, to "become an enthusiastic participant in the WTO."

"Because WTO membership offers so much to Taiwan, I hope that you will in turn offer not just membership but leadership," Paal said.

While the government and AIT both questioned the credibility of the report on Paal, veteran Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Parris Chang (張旭成) revealed yesterday that Solomon Islands Ambassador Seth Gukuna will soon be replaced.

Chang, convener of the legislature's Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee, has recently been in a war of words with Gukuna.

On Aug. 2, Chang published a statement in an English-language newspaper criticizing the dollar diplomacy practiced by the South Pacific island state of Nauru.

Two days later, Gukuna wrote a letter to Chang expressing his disappointment with the article.

Chang demanded an apology from Gukuna and said he would examine closely the proposed budget for the Solomon Islands in the legislative session.

Chang said Gukuna will quit his position "as soon as possible." The main reason Gukuna will be replaced, according to Chang, is his "inappropriate remarks."

Gukuna's inappropriate remarks have damaged Taiwan's diplomatic ties with the Solomon Islands, Chang said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the Solomon Islands will dispatch a new ambassador to Taiwan. The new ambassador has been appointed but his or her name has not be revealed, the ministry said.

The ministry did not say when the new ambassador will be arriving and declined to comment on why Gukuna is being replaced.
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