Incoming Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Michel Lu (呂慶龍) will officially take his new post today, as outgoing spokesman Richard Shih (石瑞琦) heads for his new post in South Africa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) plans to send off Shih while officially inaugurating Lu in a ceremony scheduled to take place today.
Lu previously served as the vice chairman of the ministry's Non-Governmental Organization Affairs Committee and as the nation's ambassador to Haiti between 2000 and 2002. Lu's appointment was officially finalized last Friday in a statement issued by the Executive Yuan, but MOFA was notified of the appointment last Monday.
Lu's first task as spokesman will be to accompany Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (
Rumors of Lu's contempt for reporters have been rampant since his appointment was announced. Lu has denied the allegations. In addition to serving as ministry spokesman, Lu will also act as the director-general of the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs. Shih will be departing by the end of the month to take up his new post as top representative to South Africa.
Meanwhile, Chen Chien-jen (
Chen promised yesterday when he was spotted at the MOFA building by reporters that he would talk when the appointment was finalized, but later said he was not sure.
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