Republic of China (Taiwan) President Tsai Ing-wen recently named seven ambassadors-at-large to help advance the nation’s diplomacy, according to the Office of the President.
 
Appointed to two-year terms running until June 14, 2019, the ambassadors-at-large are accomplished figures from diverse fields spanning digital opportunity, environmental sustainability, public health, sports culture and women’s empowerment. On her official Twitter account, the president said they will work to promote Taiwan’s values around the world.
 
Among the appointees is Steve Hsu-sung Kuo, director-general of the Centers for Disease Control from 2004-2010 and 2014-2016. A physician with a Ph.D. in health policy from Yale University, he served as coordinator of a Cabinet-level task force responsible for tackling an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003.
 
As head of the CDC, Kuo oversaw the launch of a series of public health reforms, including the establishment of a national health command center and the completion of a national influenza pandemic preparedness plan that helped successfully contain the spread of H1N1 in 2009.
 
Also in the lineup is Eugene Chien, chairman of Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy. During a long and distinguished career in public service, he was minister of the Environmental Protection Administration 1987-1991, minister of transportation and communications 1991-1993, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the President 2000-2002 and minister of foreign affairs 2002-2004.
 
The other newly appointed ambassadors-at-large are Chen Jen-ran, an independent director of Chunghwa Telecom Co., the nation’s largest telecommunications services provider; Chi Cheng, a national policy adviser to the president and bronze medal winner in the 80-meter hurdles at the Mexico City Olympic Games in 1968; Fan Yun, sociology professor at National Taiwan University in Taipei City; Jan Hung-tze, chairperson of PChome Online Inc., Taiwan’s largest internet retailer; and Winston Dang, former EPA minister. (SFC-E)