KEELUNG HARBOR PREPARING FOR CSI VISIT

UNCLAS TAIPEI 000018 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EAP/TC DEPT PASS TO AIT/W HONG KONG FOR DHS/ICE MARK STEELE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT TW SUBJECT: KEELUNG HARBOR PREPARING FOR CSI VISIT ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During a December 29 meeting with AIT/T econoff Taiwan Customs officials at Keelung expressed support for the proposal to implement the Container Security Initiative (CSI) in Keelung. However, they also presented data that underscored the low level of container traffic from Keelung to the United States and made comments that suggested they believe that implementation of CSI at Keelung is unnecessary. The officials pointed out that because of Keelung's geographic situation, effective implementation would require two non-intrusive inspection machines. End summary. ¶2. (U) AIT/T econoff visited Taiwan Customs officials at Keelung Harbor December 29 to discuss initial preparations for the planned CSI assessment visit to be conducted by a Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS/ICE) team February 13-17. Lee Jung-ta, Director of the Keelung Customs Office, said that it would be an honor to have the CSI program implemented at Keelung. Deputy Director Chiang An-hsiung added that the Keelung Customs staff had already been in touch with the Port of Kaohsiung to become more familiar with CSI operations there. ¶3. (SBU) However, Lee's staff also gave a short presentation on traffic at the harbor that underscored the low level of direct cargo traffic to the United States. Chou Tsung-pin, Chief of Keelung Customs Inspection Division, noted that of Keelung's 75,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of monthly outbound container traffic, 5,260 TEUs are destined for the United States. Chou also pointed out that of 4,200 TEUs of monthly transshipped container traffic U.S. bound containers sometimes number fewer than 10 per day. ¶4. (SBU) In addition, Lee and his staff made other comments that suggested they believed that implementation of CSI at Keelung is unnecessary. Lee observed that even if no CSI staff are placed in Keelung, Keelung Customs officials could send shipping information to the Kaohsiung CSI unit for review. During a tour of the harbor, Chou pointed out more than once that the development of the Port of Taipei at the mouth of the Danshuei River would reduce container traffic at Keelung Harbor. Note: The first container terminal at the Port of Taipei is scheduled to be completed March ¶2008. In all, seven container terminals should be operational by 2014 with a total capacity exceeding 2 million TEUs per year. This is bound to have an impact on container traffic at Keelung, which totaled 2.07 million TEUs in 2004, but observers disagree on the level of impact. In comparison, container traffic in Kaohsiung totaled 9.71 million TEUs for 2004. End note. ¶5. (U) During the visit, Keelung Customs officials emphasized the need for two non-invasive inspection machines in order to implement CSI effectively. There are container terminals on each side of harbor with no way to transfer individual containers conveniently from one side to the other. They reported that Taiwan Customs has requested funding to purchase non-intrusive inspection equipment for Keelung for five years, but the Legislative Yuan has denied the request. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: The comments of Keelung Customs officials may be colored by the additional burden that the CSI program will impose on their workload. We report their observations to ensure that DHS and other Washington agencies have a complete picture of circumstances at the port. Customs officials in Taipei have expressed support for the program's implementation in Keelung. AIT is ready to support fully the implementation of the CSI program in Keelung. End comment. PAAL