Diplomatic allies Guatemala and St. Lucia are both preparing to send ambassadors to Taiwan. That’s the word from Yeh De-guey, a counselor with the foreign ministry’s Latin American and Caribbean affairs section on Tuesday.
Guatemala’s previous ambassador, Arturo Duarte, completed his term as ambassador to Taiwan and left the country on Sunday. Yeh said that Guatemala has reportedly selected his successor, and is awaiting the approval of Taiwan’s presidential office.
Meanwhile, St. Lucia, which opened its Taipei embassy earlier in the month, has selected a candidate for ambassador to Taiwan as well. But Yeh said that St. Lucia’s cabinet is still reviewing the candidate, and so it is not possible to reveal the candidate’s name.
The nomination of new ambassadors from Guatemala and St. Lucia comes just weeks before President Ma Ying-jeou is scheduled to visit Taiwan’s Latin American and Caribbean allies.