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The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) serves as the de facto embassy of the United States in Taiwan. AIT exists because the United States, in maintaining diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and acknowledging its view of the One-China policy, does not officially recognize the Republic of China and hence cannot open an actual embassy there.

The Republic of China is similarly represented in the U.S. by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office.

AIT was created in 1979 by the Taiwan Relations Act after the U.S. switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the People's Republic of China in 1978. Although it is a nominally private organization, it is authorized to perform functions normally carried on by an embassy, including issuing visas and passports. The Department of State, through a contract with AIT, provides a large part of AIT's funding and guidance in its operations.

AIT has a small headquarters office in Arlington, Virginia. AIT's largest office is located in Taipei, Taiwan. AIT also has a small branch office in Taiwan's southern port city of Kaohsiung. These three offices are referred to as AIT/Washington (AIT/W), AIT/Taipei (AIT/T) and AIT/Kaohsiung (AIT/K), respectively.[1] The Director of AIT/T serves the functions normally associated with an ambassador. The Director of AIT/T is Stephen Young (from March 18, 2006), the Managing Director of AIT/W is Barbara Schrage, and the Chairman of AIT is Raymond Burghardt.

Contents 1 List of Directors 2 List of Chairmen 3 See also 4 References 5 External link

• Charles T. Cross 1979 - 1981
• James R. Lilley 1981 - 1984
• Harry E.T. Thayer 1984 - 1986
• David Dean 1987 - 1989
• Thomas Brooks 1990 - 1993
• B. Lynn Pascoe 1993 - 1996
• Darryl Norman Johnson 1996 - 1999
• Raymond Burghardt 1999 - 2001
• Douglas H. Paal 2002 - 2006
• Stephen M. Young 2006 -

• David Dean 1979 - 1986
• David N. Laux 1986 - 1990
• Natale H. Bellocchi 1990 - 1995
• James C. Wood, Jr. 1996 - 1997
• Richard C. Bush 1997 - 2002
• Therese Shaheen 2002 - 2004
• David G. Brown 2004 - 2006 (Acting)
• Raymond Burghardt 2006 -

• Foreign relations of Taiwan
• Foreign relations of the United States
• Political status of Taiwan

• "Introduction to the American Institute in Taiwan" from AIT's official web site.
• "AIT/Taipei Directors" from AIT's official web site.
• "AIT/Washington Chairmen" from AIT's official web site.

• Official website