Raymond Burghardt has served since February 2006 as Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the organization established by Congress in 1979 to manage U.S. relations with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

Secretary of State Rice named him to the AIT chairmanship. The Obama Administration asked him to continue in that position. As Chairman of AIT's Washington-based headquarters, Burghardt represents the Administration in periodic visits to Taiwan, participates in the U.S. Government's policy decisions concerning Taiwan, and meets with the high-level Taiwan officials when they visit the United States.

For many years Burghardt was one of the leading Asian specialists in the US Foreign Service. He was the Ambassador to Vietnam from 2001 – 2004 and Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) in Taipei from 1999-2001. He previously served as Consul General in Shanghai, as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassies in Manila and Seoul, and as Political Counselor in Beijing. He was Special Assistant to President Reagan for Latin American Affairs.