Taiwan has adopted more stringent screening for visa applications of people coming from countries that are deemed to be connected to recent terrorist attacks, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said yesterday.
Department of West Asian and African Affairs Director-General Chen Chun-shen (陳俊賢) said that the screening of visa applications of people from some countries in the Middle East and Africa has been more rigorous.
Taiwan is to implement e-visas for some countries next year, which means that applicants do not have to appear in person, but the screening measures are to be the same.
“Our foreign missions will safeguard border security,” Chen said.
Meanwhile, amid fears that Taiwan could become the target of terrorist attacks after the Republic of China flag appeared next to that of the US in a video produced by the Islamic State group, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport has stepped up its security.
The video, titled No Respite shows the flags of more than 80 countries that are part of a US-led “anti-terror coalition.”
Armed SWAT teams have increased patrols in and around Taoyuan facility.
As of yesterday two explosive-detection dogs from Taipei Customs are to be used in cabin security check operations for flights bound for the US and Europe.
The first to be checked by the dogs was an EVA Airways flight bound for Paris.
Taiwan Customs Director-General Jao Ping (饒平) said that it has also trained five sniffer dogs, but that three of them have been seconded to the National Security Bureau for the protection of presidential candidates, with the remaining two left to carry out security checks at the airport.
Jao said that customs authorities have accelerated the training of another three to five sniffer dogs.
The Aviation Police Bureau, in a bid to increase carry-on luggage checks, is using a mobile explosives detection device in conjunction with the standard X-ray machines.
Due to increased security measures, airlines have urged passengers bound for the US and Europe to arrive at the airport up to three hours prior to departure.
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