AIT DIRECTOR AND INTERIOR MINISTER DISCUSS LAW

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