William A. "Bill" Stanton (traditional Chinese:司徒文), a United States career diplomat, is the current Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, Taipei Office. His tenure began on August 28, 2009.[1] The position that serves as de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan because the two countries do not have formal diplomatic ties, a necessity in order for the United States to have formal diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.
Stanton was Chargé d'Affaires ad interim (acting Ambassador) to Australia from 2005 to 2006. He assumed this position on the departure of Ambassador Tom Schieffer in January 2005. He was assigned as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Canberra in July 2003. Stanton left Canberra in 2006 and was appointed Deputy Chief of Mission in Seoul, Republic of Korea.[2]
A career diplomat, Stanton joined the US State Department in 1978, and has also served in Beijing, Islamabad, and Beirut and in senior positions in the State Department, most recently as Director of the Office of Egyptian and North African Affairs (2001–2003) and as Director of the Office of UN Political Affairs (1999–2001).
He earned a B.A. magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Fordham University. His M.A. and a Ph.D. (1978) in English literature were both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[1] He can speak Mandarin Chinese.[1]
Stanton is married with two daughters, Katherine and Elizabeth.