U.S. Senate confirms Stilwell as top diplomat for East Asia

The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed former Air Force General David Stilwell to be the State Department's top diplomat for East Asia, a post that had remained unfilled for more than two years despite major challenges in the region.

The Senate vote to approve Stilwell as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs came nearly eight months after President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate the former career fighter pilot, who speaks Korean, Chinese and some Japanese, for the job.