LAUNCH OF SECURE FREIGHT INITIATIVE - NONPAPER

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 004165 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/TC HONG KONG FOR DHS/CBP ENERGY FOR NNSA MICHAEL BEDKE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT KHLS ASEC PTER ECON TW SUBJECT: LAUNCH OF SECURE FREIGHT INITIATIVE - NONPAPER DELIVERED TO TAIWAN REF: A. STATE 196252 ¶B. STATE 197046 AIT/T briefed Directorate General of Customs Investigations Department Director Lin Shu-chi on December 19, 2006, on the U.S. launch of the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) as instructed ref A. AIT/T separately briefed Ministry of Transportation and Communications Department of Navigation and Aviation Senior Specialist Chen Jin-sheng on December 15. Officials at both agencies expressed interest in the program and reiterated Taiwan's desire to cooperate with the United States on efforts to enhance transportation security. Both had questions about how the new program would be coordinated with the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the Megaports Program. (Note: CSI has been implemented at the Port of Kaohsiung and Keelung Harbor. Preparations are underway to implement Megaports at Kaohsiung. End note.) Econoff answered their questions using information in ref A and offered to arrange a meeting with Department of Energy Megaports Program officers, who will visit Taipei in late January, to provide further information about the new program. AIT/T also briefed contacts at the Headquarters Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) and the Executive Yuan Counter-Terrorism Office by telephone. WANG