Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TAIPEI1422
2009-12-03 09:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
AIT DIRECTOR AND INTERIOR MINISTER DISCUSS LAW
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 001422
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019
TAGS: CVIS KCRM KJUS PGOV PREL TW CH
SUBJECT: AIT DIRECTOR AND INTERIOR MINISTER DISCUSS LAW
ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION, VISA WAIVER, EXTRADITION
Classified By: AIT Director Bill Stanton,
for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 001422
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019
TAGS: CVIS KCRM KJUS PGOV PREL TW CH
SUBJECT: AIT DIRECTOR AND INTERIOR MINISTER DISCUSS LAW
ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION, VISA WAIVER, EXTRADITION
Classified By: AIT Director Bill Stanton,
for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (SBU) Summary: In a December 3 introductory meeting with
the Director, Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah reaffirmed
Taiwan's commitment to continued close cooperation with the
United States on border security and anti-human trafficking
issues. Jiang also said he hoped for progress on entering the
Visa Waiver Program and on the negotiation of an extradition
agreement. End Summary.
2. (SBU) The Director expressed appreciation for the
assistance provided to AIT and the larger American community
by the Ministry of Interior and its various agencies on a
broad range of law enforcement issues. Jiang reiterated his
commitment to continuing the close and productive
relationship enjoyed with AIT.
Seeking an Extradition Agreement
--------------
3. (C) Minister Jiang expressed hope that progress could be
made on negotiating an extradition agreement, noting that
currently, Taiwan returns far more fugitives to the United
States than the United States returns to Taiwan. (Note:
Taiwan has returned five fugitives to the U.S. over the past
two years while the U.S. has returned one.) The Director
acknowledged U.S. efforts to return criminal fugitives to
Taiwan had been hampered in the past by immigration
proceedings. He noted that AIT was working hard to achieve
concrete progress on this vital issue.
Taiwan Aspirations for Visa Waiver
--------------
4. (C) The Director assured Minister Jiang that AIT and the
State Department remained positively engaged on Taiwan's
desire to enter the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The Director
emphasized, however, that the decision would be based on a
set of objective criteria, rather than political
considerations. Taiwan's NIV refusal rate, while low,
remained higher than the three percent threshold for the VWP.
Although other visa waiver participants, such as Korea, also
had refusal rates above the three percent threshold, they
were able to gain entry in the program through special
legislation. Meeting all the other criteria for VWP, such as
requiring personal presence for passports and formalizing
information-sharing, could help build a more persuasive case
for Taiwan.
5. (C) Jiang said Taiwan authorities remained committed to
improving passport security and meeting information-sharing
requirements and hoped a delegation from the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) could visit Taiwan in the near
future to discuss the issue. The Director agreed that such a
visit would provide the best method for DHS to directly
explain the VWP criteria and for Taiwan to demonstrate its
sincerity and commitment in addressing those criteria.
Trafficking-in-Persons
--------------
6. (SBU) The Director urged the Ministry of Interior (MOI) to
continue to advocate stronger interagency coordination and
commitment on human trafficking issues and asked about recent
press reports on plans to decriminalize prostitution. Jiang
reaffirmed MOI's commitment to combating
trafficking-in-persons. He said the Ministry was considering
decriminalizing prostitution, but still needed to find a
system that would accommodate the needs of sex workers while
addressing any public concerns. He also noted that legalized
prostitution existed in the United States.
STANTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019
TAGS: CVIS KCRM KJUS PGOV PREL TW CH
SUBJECT: AIT DIRECTOR AND INTERIOR MINISTER DISCUSS LAW
ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION, VISA WAIVER, EXTRADITION
Classified By: AIT Director Bill Stanton,
for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (SBU) Summary: In a December 3 introductory meeting with
the Director, Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah reaffirmed
Taiwan's commitment to continued close cooperation with the
United States on border security and anti-human trafficking
issues. Jiang also said he hoped for progress on entering the
Visa Waiver Program and on the negotiation of an extradition
agreement. End Summary.
2. (SBU) The Director expressed appreciation for the
assistance provided to AIT and the larger American community
by the Ministry of Interior and its various agencies on a
broad range of law enforcement issues. Jiang reiterated his
commitment to continuing the close and productive
relationship enjoyed with AIT.
Seeking an Extradition Agreement
--------------
3. (C) Minister Jiang expressed hope that progress could be
made on negotiating an extradition agreement, noting that
currently, Taiwan returns far more fugitives to the United
States than the United States returns to Taiwan. (Note:
Taiwan has returned five fugitives to the U.S. over the past
two years while the U.S. has returned one.) The Director
acknowledged U.S. efforts to return criminal fugitives to
Taiwan had been hampered in the past by immigration
proceedings. He noted that AIT was working hard to achieve
concrete progress on this vital issue.
Taiwan Aspirations for Visa Waiver
--------------
4. (C) The Director assured Minister Jiang that AIT and the
State Department remained positively engaged on Taiwan's
desire to enter the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The Director
emphasized, however, that the decision would be based on a
set of objective criteria, rather than political
considerations. Taiwan's NIV refusal rate, while low,
remained higher than the three percent threshold for the VWP.
Although other visa waiver participants, such as Korea, also
had refusal rates above the three percent threshold, they
were able to gain entry in the program through special
legislation. Meeting all the other criteria for VWP, such as
requiring personal presence for passports and formalizing
information-sharing, could help build a more persuasive case
for Taiwan.
5. (C) Jiang said Taiwan authorities remained committed to
improving passport security and meeting information-sharing
requirements and hoped a delegation from the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) could visit Taiwan in the near
future to discuss the issue. The Director agreed that such a
visit would provide the best method for DHS to directly
explain the VWP criteria and for Taiwan to demonstrate its
sincerity and commitment in addressing those criteria.
Trafficking-in-Persons
--------------
6. (SBU) The Director urged the Ministry of Interior (MOI) to
continue to advocate stronger interagency coordination and
commitment on human trafficking issues and asked about recent
press reports on plans to decriminalize prostitution. Jiang
reaffirmed MOI's commitment to combating
trafficking-in-persons. He said the Ministry was considering
decriminalizing prostitution, but still needed to find a
system that would accommodate the needs of sex workers while
addressing any public concerns. He also noted that legalized
prostitution existed in the United States.
STANTON