The US government has declined to comment on a post that indicated the departure of Laura Rosenberger as chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
Neither the US Department of State nor the AIT has responded to the Central News Agency’s questions on the matter, after Rosenberger was listed as a former chair on the AIT’s official Web site, with her tenure marked as 2023 to this year.
US officials have said previously that they usually do not comment on personnel changes within the government.
Photo: CNA
Rosenberger was appointed head of the AIT in 2023, during the administration of former US president Joe Biden. She had visited Taiwan at least six times over the past two years.
Her most recent visit was in May last year, when she attended the inauguration of President William Lai (賴清德), alongside former US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage and former AIT chair Richard Bush.
Rosenberger’s last post on X as AIT chair was in December last year, when she wrote a message welcoming Lai during his transit stop in Hawaii.
At the time, she was on maternity leave, and Ingrid Larson, managing director of the AIT’s Washington office, handled Lai’s reception.
It remains unclear whether Rosenberger’s apparent departure is related to US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Jan. 21 via Truth Social that he planned to dismiss more than 1,000 Biden-era appointees.
Before heading the AIT, Rosenberger held senior US government positions related to cross-strait affairs and national security. Her titles included special assistant to the president, and senior director for China and Taiwan on the US National Security Council.
Taiwanese officials have not commented on Rosenberger’s apparent departure as head of the AIT.
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