TAIWAN WILL PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL PORT SECURITY

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001012 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/ TC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT TW SUBJECT: TAIWAN WILL PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL PORT SECURITY PROGRAM ¶1. U.S. Coast Guard LCDR Scott Kim and LT Richard Kavanaugh visited Taiwan March 20 and 21 to brief Taiwan officials on the Coast Guard's International Port Security (IPS) Program. Kim and Kavanaugh met with officials from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC),the Executive Yuan Counter-Terr orism Office, the Directorate General of Customs, and the Taiwan Coast Guard. All of the Taiwan interlocutors expressed support for the program. Senior Specialist Li Juel-der of MOTC's Department of Navigation and Aviation, Taiwan's counterpart agency for this program, enthusiastically agreed that Taiwan would accept a formal visit under the program in the coming months. ¶2. AIT/T strongly endorses implementation of the IPS Program in Taiwan and believes the Taiwan authorities will be good partners. Taiwan has been highly cooperative throughout implementation of the Container Security Initiative and in discussions to initiate the Megaports Program. Taiwan is not a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IPS Program will be particularly useful in helping Taiwan fulfill its voluntary commitment to conform with the IMO's International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. ¶3. This telegram was cleared by USCG LCDR Kim and LT Kavanaugh. YOUNG