Cablegate: Launch of Secure Freight Initiative - Nonpaper

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIN #4165 3540850
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200850Z DEC 06
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3505
INFO RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 7346
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC

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

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