As the world order shifts and Taiwan plays an increasingly critical role, CNN has announced the opening of a branch in Taipei.

(AFP)

[Central News Agency] CNN International announced the opening of a branch in Taipei, with the award-winning senior international correspondent Ripley resident.

CNN stressed that as the world order changes, "Taiwan plays an increasingly critical role."

CNN issued a press release yesterday noting that Will Ripley has spent a significant amount of time in Taiwan over the past 12 months to report on growing tensions between Taipei and Beijing.

The press release stated that Lipley had received exclusive interviews with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie, and extensively reported on the controversy caused by the visit of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.

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"As the world order shifts, we see Taiwan playing an increasingly critical role," said Ellana Lee, senior vice president of CNN International and executive editor-in-chief for Asia Pacific, in the press release. In the landscape, having a team based there allows us to gain an in-depth understanding of this piece of the Asia-Pacific puzzle.”

Before Taipei, Ripley was based in Hong Kong, where he covered several major events in the region, including the mystery surrounding Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, the Tokyo Olympics postponed to last year, the novel coronavirus outbreak and the Hong Kong protests.

Before being stationed in Hong Kong, Ripley was a CNN correspondent in Tokyo.

He has more than 20 years of experience, and after working at CNN in 2014, he went to North Korea for 19 interviews.

Mike McCarthy, executive vice president and general manager of CNN International, said: "Will [Ripley's name] is an exceptional journalist with a deep knowledge and understanding of the complex and important Asia-Pacific region. Reporter Based in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, CNN can provide unique strategic analysis and insights across our TV and digital platforms."

Taipei is CNN's eighth bureau in Asia, and CNN also has editorial offices in Beijing, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Islamabad, New Delhi, Seoul and Tokyo.