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US Homeland official in Taiwan to view
security
By Shih Hsiu-chuan
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Apr 30, 2010, Page 3
US Department Homeland Security (DHS) acting Assistant Secretary Mariko Silver
will observe security measures in place at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
today, marking the highest-level incumbent DHS official to engage in such
inspections with the Taiwanese government.
Kirk Skinner, a senior representative of Transportation Security under the DHS
assigned to the US embassy in Tokyo, will also attend the inspections.
Asked for comment, Skinner, present on the last day of a two-day conference on
homeland security in Taipei yesterday, said the practice was based on an
agreement under which ¡§we assist Taiwan with evaluating its airports.¡¨
Skinner did not elaborate on which agreement the practice was based on.
COOPERATION
Speaking by telephone, Harry Tseng (´¿«p¤¯), director-general of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs¡¦ Department of North American Affairs, said US officials had
visited since an exchange of letters in December last year in which the two
sides agreed on the principles for cooperation on improving travel security.
¡§It¡¦s not the first time we have had DHS officials participating in such an
inspection, but Silver is the highest-level US official to visit. With the
signing of the letter agreement [to enhance airport security], the practices
were written into a statutory document,¡¨ Tseng said.
Tseng said the purpose of the exchange of letters ¡§is to use it as an umbrella
agreement for future bilateral cooperative projects between the US and Taiwan,
under which both sides will set up a task force working group with a view to
work out cooperative projects to upgrade safety for passengers, refine passport
security and bring forth anti-terrorism cooperation.¡¨
AIR MARSHALS
The key points of the exchange of letters included joint efforts to improve
travel security, combat counterfeited documents and share passengers¡¦
information; to exchange information on suspected terrorists; to exchange
information on reporting systems for lost and stolen passports; to expand
cooperation on air marshals and to cooperate on airport security.
Silver arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday and will leave later today.
American Institute in Taiwan spokesman Christopher Kavanagh said Silver had held
meetings with various ministries to discuss issues of mutual interest during her
stay in Taiwan.
¡§Prior to her departure [today] she will meet with the aviation police and
observe security measures in place at [Taiwan] Taoyuan International Airport,¡¨
Kavanagh said in a statement, adding that the DHS¡¦ Transportation Security
Administration regularly engages its Taiwanese counterparts on aviation security
matters.
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