Outgoing AIT Director Kin Moy awarded state honor

2018/07/05

President Tsai Ing-wen awarded July 3 outgoing American Institute in Taiwan Director Kin Moy the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon at the Office of the President in Taipei City for his substantive contributions to deepening the Taiwan-U.S. partnership.
 
 Moy achieved the three major goals he set himself at the beginning of his three-year tenure: enhancing ties based on mutual trust, spotlighting to the people of Taiwan the robust bonds of friendship with the U.S., and overseeing completion of the AIT’s new office complex in Taipei’s Neihu District, Tsai said.
 
 Describing the opening of the headquarters last month as a historic milestone, Tsai said she was honored to attend the event alongside Moy and dignitaries from both sides to witness the beginning of this new chapter in Taiwan-U.S. relations.
 
 According to the president, other advances achieved during Moy’s tenure span Taiwan’s inclusion in the U.S. Global Entry program last year; the U.S. Department of State’s decision in April to grant a marketing license for American companies to sell technology allowing for domestic submarine development; and U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of a US$1.42 billion arms package last June.
 
 Tsai also expressed gratitude to the AIT director for helping advance Taiwan-U.S. collaboration on major regional and global issues across such areas as energy, information and communication technology, public health and women’s empowerment. Initiatives pooling expertise and experiences from the two sides have contributed to the development of the Indo-Pacific and boosted Taiwan’s links with regional partners, she said.
 
 In response, Moy thanked the president for her commitment to enhancing relations. Conveying confidence that ties will continue to grow after he leaves his post, Moy said staff at the AIT strongly share his belief that deepening cooperation is in the best interests of the people of Taiwan and the U.S.
 
 Moy is scheduled to leave his post in mid-July. He will be succeeded by William Brent Christensen, who served as AIT deputy director from 2012-2015.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=137345)