Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te appointed Lee Yi-yang as the new representative of Taiwan in Japan on Friday.

Lee, 69, is a former journalist and served two terms as a Taipei City Council member.

In the 2000s, he worked as secretary-general of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and minister of the interior under the administration of then President Chen Shui-bian.

Under the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen, Lai's immediate predecessor, Lee worked as vice president of the Examination Yuan in charge of public sector personnel affairs and senior advisor to the presidential office. Sources say Lee speaks Japanese.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said Lee has devoted himself to public office for many years and has a rich career. It said the relationship between Taiwan and Japan will fully deepen under Lee.

Taiwanese media outlets say Lee will take office sometime around September.

Lee's predecessor, Frank Hsieh, has already left the post as representative in Japan and become senior advisor to the presidential office.