Vice President Lu Meets with Douglas Paal, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan's Taipei Office
Taipei, July 17 (CNA) Douglas Paal is "God's choice" to be director of the American Institute in Taiwan's (AIT) Taipei office, Vice President Annette Lu told the new AIT chief Wednesday.
Receiving Paal in her office, the vice president praised Paal's wide experience in dealing with mainland China and Taiwan, saying there is no better choice than he to take over the job in light of the current situation across the Taiwan Strait.
Citing the newly released U.S. Defense Department's assessment of mainland China's military strength, Lu said Beijing's military threat against Taiwan is more real than ever despite Taiwan's continuous reaching out to mainland China by pumping investment across the Strait to help its hi-tech industries.
Mainland China has developed into the world's third-largest exporter of integrated circuit products, thanks to Taiwanese-owned factories in the mainland, which accounts for 70 percent of exported IC products.
Taiwan's goodwill will pay off for Beijing if it denounces the use of force against the island, Lu said.
Lu urged the world to see the problem of Beijing's military intimidation of Taiwan in perspective and acknowledge the peaceful intentions of the Republic of China.
Paal thanked Lu for receiving him and promised to do his best to promote ties between Taipei and Washington.