TAIPEI, Taiwan– A seasoned career diplomat with nearly 30 years’ experience will replace Tom Chou as this Asian nation’s representative in St. Lucia.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson James Chang confirmed his appointment to the Central News Agency but said he has “to discuss with Ambassador Chou about the handover process”.
He, however, said the reshuffle was a “routine rotation”.
The Dr. Kenny Anthony government in Castries, the St. Lucian seat of government, has demanded that Chou be recalled.
Anthony, whose Labour government was re-elected to office in November, has accused Chou — who has been stationed in Castries for five years — of interfering in the Caribbean nation’s internal affairs under the United Workers’ Party (UWP) administration.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) here has repeatedly denied the allegations, which also say Chou interfered in the electoral process to the benefit of the UWP, which St. Lucian booted out of office after a single five-year term.
Anthony reiterated the position of his government while reflecting on his administration’s first 100 days in office, saying that while his government respected a Taiwan law that prohibits the reassignment of diplomats within three months of an election, he was expecting Chou to leave Castries after the inauguration on Sunday of Ma, who was re-elected for a second term in January.
Chang has represented Taiwan in the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Philippines and has served as the MOFA spokesperson since 2010.