American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Washington Office Managing Director Ingrid Larson is visiting Taiwan this week until Friday, the AIT today said in a press release.
Larson arrived yesterday and is scheduled to hold several meetings “as part of the US’ strong commitment to Taiwan and to advance the growing US-Taiwan partnership,” the AIT said.
“While in Taiwan, she will discuss continued US-Taiwan collaboration on issues of mutual interest such as regional security, mutually beneficial trade and investment, and people-to-people, educational and cultural ties,” it added.
Photo: CNA
The AIT did not name the officials Larson is expected to meet with while in Taipei.
According to previous practice, senior AIT officials usually meet with Taiwan's president or vice president, senior diplomats and leaders from different political parties.
As managing director, Larson is responsible for hosting important visitors from Taiwan, finalizing programs and transactions on behalf of the US government as empowered by the Taiwan Relations Act, and overseeing fiscal and other reporting requirements for AIT, the institute said on its website.
She was appointed managing director of AIT’s Washington Office in May 2020. She joined AIT after a 22-year career in the US Department of State, where she served as the director of the Office of Taiwan Coordination, being responsible for the coordination of US policy toward and engagement with Taiwan.
AIT represents US interests in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties. The headquarters is based in Virginia and there is a main office in Taipei and a branch office in Kaohsiung. Its Taipei director serves as the top US envoy to Taiwan.
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