BELIZE: BIO OF NEW TAIWAN AMBASSADOR

UNCLAS BELIZE 000096 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - JASON MACK EAP/TC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ECON NZ AIT BH SUBJECT: BELIZE: BIO OF NEW TAIWAN AMBASSADOR ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The Embassy of Taiwan announced the appointment Joseph Ting Shih as the new Ambassador to Belize. Shih comes from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New Zealand, and is expected to arrive within the next week. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Shih's curriculum vitae is: Education: 1975 - Bachelor's Degree, National Chengchi University, Taiwan 1983 - M.A., Foreign Service, Georgetown University, USA Foreign Postings: South Africa 1984-88 and 1995-1999; Saudi Arabia 1988-91; South Korea 1991-1994 (Director of Mission 1992-94); New Zealand 2002-2005 ¶3. (SBU) During their sixth annual tourism awards and awareness week January 16-22, the state run Belize Tourism Board awarded the outgoing Taiwanese Ambassador Charles Tsai a "Special Recognition Award." The highly respected Tsai has served in Belize for nearly six years, and will next be posted in Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ¶4. (U) For more information contact post Biometric Information Coordinator PolOff Brian DaRin. Email: darinbs@state.gov; Tel: 501-227-7161 ext 205. DIETER