An unnamed source says that the White House is sending former US Trade Representative Ronald Kirk to attend President-elect Tsai Ing-wen’s inauguration.
Kirk has declined to comment on e-mailed questions from Taiwan’s Central News Agency. As of Wednesday afternoon, the US National Security Council and State Department have yet to respond to e-mails from reporters.
Kirk was the Obama administration’s first trade representative. He has since returned to a career in law. If he is sent to attend Tsai’s inauguration, it would represent a break with the past. The US sent former White House chiefs of staff to Taiwan’s 2008 and 2012 inauguration ceremonies.