Taiwan News
Date: 2016-02-14
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Taiwan has seen a record number of female diplomats this year, with nine of the nation’s diplomatic missions are headed by women diplomats, the most at any one time in Taiwan’s diplomatic history, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

At present, MOFA has women representatives in Germany, Austria, Finland, Norway, Melbourne (Australia), New York (U.S.), Edinburgh (U.K.), Toronto (Canada), and to the World Trade Organization in Switzerland, the ministry said.

MOFA regulations stipulate that officials working in the ministry must work in foreign embassies or missions after serving in Taiwan for three to five years. They have to serve abroad for at least six years and then wait for the next transfer.

“A few decades ago, female diplomats were regarded as anomalies,” Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin said, adding that he hopes women can play a greater role in the Foreign Service in the coming future.     [FULL  STORY]