The foreign ministry has conferred Taiwan’s Friendship Medal of Diplomacy on Brent Christensen, the outgoing deputy director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
The AIT serves as the United States’ de facto embassy in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties between the US and Taiwan.
Foreign Minister David Lin presented Christensen with the award at a ceremony on Monday. Christensen took up his post as deputy director of the AIT in August, 2012.
Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Andrew Hsia attended the award ceremony. Hsia said that he has worked with Christensen for a number of years, both as MAC minister and during work with the foreign ministry and defense ministry.