The US is organizing a working group to visit Taiwan soon to inspect its visa security measures, as the US considers offering visa-free entry to Taiwanese, a senior official said.
“The US working group will consult with our government agencies in charge of visa affairs on possible measures to further enhance visa security,” Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Shen Lyushun (沈呂巡) said at the legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee on Wednesday.
Shen said the US working group hopes to learn more about Taiwan’s processing of visa applications and will request that the government make it mandatory for Taiwanese to apply in person for US visas to reduce the possibility of irregularities.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is giving priority to the goal of securing visa-free treatment within one year for Republic of China passport holders traveling to the US and EU member countries,” Shen told lawmakers.
While the US Department of State and Congress are basically open to the proposal, he said, the US Homeland Security Department is reluctant to give the green light because of the specter of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“We need to make greater efforts to convince them that we have taken effective steps to plug the loopholes in the visa processing procedures,” Shen said.
He briefed lawmakers on the US government’s policy and stance toward Taiwan in the wake of US President Barack Obama’s recent visit to China.
Taiwan-US relations will continue to move in a positive direction following a recent briefing in Taipei by American Institute in Taiwan Chairman Raymond Burghardt on Obama’s visit to China last month, Shen said.
“While the US may defer its decisions on some items, they will remain on the evaluation list,” Shen said, adding that the US would continue to support Taiwan’s efforts to participate in international organizations.
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