(Central News Agency reporter Zhong Youzhen, Washington, 26th) On the eve of the resignation of former director of the American Institute in Taiwan, Li Yingjie, when China banned Taiwanese pineapples, he once took out the Wanglai from under the table with an expressionless voice and played it with a “thud”. At the table, support Taiwan and fight bullying with strength. After returning to the United States, Li Yingjie will join the “Global Taiwan Research Center”, a think tank in Washington.
The Global Taiwan Institute (GTI) announced yesterday that Brent Christensen, former director of AIT, will join the advisory committee. Li Yingjie said, “As a long-time Taiwanese fan, I look forward to working with GTI to promote stronger U.S.-Taiwan relations.”
During the tenure of senior diplomat Li Yingjie, 2.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine donated to Taiwan by the United States arrived in Taiwan in a timely manner. The scene of him wearing a Ministry of Health and Welfare vest to “personally welcome” them at Taoyuan Airport is unforgettable. He is also described as a man who loves Taiwan by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in public and private situations.
Li Yingjie was first stationed in Taiwan from 1989 to 1991 and served as a consular officer in AIT. After 21 years, he came to Taiwan again from 2012 to 2015 to take over as the deputy director of AIT. In August 2018, he took over the position of Director of AIT. This is his third term in Taiwan.
However, Li Yingjie, who has a background as a dentist, became associated with Taiwan much earlier than 1989. When he left his hometown for the first time at the age of 19, his destination was Taiwan. “For me as a young person, from then on, Taiwan became synonymous with communication and understanding, exploration and adventure.”
During his tenure as AIT director, Taiwan-U.S. relations significantly heated up. The then U.S. Secretary of Health Alex Azar and Under Secretary of State Keith Krach visited Taiwan in August and September 2020. This was the first time that Taiwan and the United States severed diplomatic relations in 1979. Later, he visited Taiwan’s highest-level cabinet and State Council officials, and the State Council even loosened the rules on exchanges with Taiwan that had been in effect for many years.
Before leaving office in 2021, Li Yingjie had many heart-warming quotes, including “Although I am about to leave Taiwan, Taiwan will never leave me.” But he also reminded that it is easy for everyone to fall into the cycle of trivial matters every day, such as whether the director of AIT attends an event for the “first time”, or the rank of the guest and the meaning behind it.
He said the focus should be on the relationship between the United States and Taiwan, which is both deep and broad and growing in different ways. Now that he has joined GTI, it may be the implementation of this idea.
After returning to the United States, Li Yingjie was posted to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In January this year, he bid farewell to his 35-year diplomatic career and returned to his alma mater, Brigham Young University, as an adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science.
GTI CEO Russell Hsiao said that Li Yingjie’s enthusiasm for Taiwan and dedication to implementing U.S. foreign policy are the combination of passion and practical expertise, which will help further promote GTI in promoting the U.S.-Taiwan partnership. play a unique role.
GTI was established in 2016. Members of the advisory committee include Joseph Bosco, the former China Section Chief of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Wallace ‘Chip’ Gregson, the former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense for Asia and the Pacific, and Yang, the former Director of the AIT Stephen Young and William Stanton, etc. (Editor: Gao Zhaofen) 1130427
