Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/06/14
By: Elaine Hou and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, June 14 (CNA) Relations between Taiwan and the United States could benefit from retired Air Force General David Stilwell taking over as the U.S. State Department's top diplomat for East Asia, Taiwanese scholars said Friday.

The U.S. Senate voted Thursday 94-3 to approve Stilwell as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, a post that has been left vacant since April 2017.

In a written statement at his nomination hearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the former career fighter pilot said China should stop its suppression of Taiwan and resume its dialogue with the democratic government of Taiwan.

In response to the confirmation, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday praised Stilwell's familiarity with security affairs in the Asia-Pacific region and said it hoped to work with him to deepen the partnership between Taiwan and the U.S.    [FULL  STORY]