Securing U.S. visa-free entry for Taiwan’s 23 million people is a top priority for the ROC government. To achieve this goal, every step is being taken to ensure Taiwan’s passports and issuing practices are on par with the best in the world.
The latest development in this process sees first-time ROC passport applicants required to submit their paperwork in person from July 1 at one of four Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular services offices in Hualien, Kaohsiung, Taichung or Taipei. In addition, identity verification procedures will be carried out on the spot, with those under 14 vouched for by adult relatives.
This improvement, along with the introduction of biometric passports Dec. 29, 2008, directly addresses a U.S. complaint that Taiwan’s passport issuing practices are often abused by human traffickers. It is also a milestone on the path Taiwan must follow to achieve U.S. visa-free entry as mapped out in the Principles for Cooperation on Improving Travel Security inked Dec. 19, 2008, between the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. and the American Institute in Taiwan.
To the people of Taiwan, being included in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program means more than just being able to visit the U.S. without a visa for up to 90 days. It means that their country can rightfully take its place alongside 36 others in being viewed by the world’s greatest democracy as an upstanding and responsible stakeholder in the international community.
Washington has repeatedly stated that Taipei cannot be included in the VWP program until all requirements outlined in the travel security agreement have been satisfied. But as ROC President Ma Ying-jeou pointed out to visiting AIT Chairman Raymond F. Burghardt June 28, this has now been achieved and Taiwan should be admitted into the VWP.
These efforts, combined with the government’s pragmatic cross-strait policies, which seek to increase economic interaction and normalize relations with mainland China, have seen an increasing number of countries, territories and regions extend visa-free privileges to ROC citizens. According to the MOFA, 116 governments offer visa-free entry or landing visas to ROC passport holders, including those of Canada, Croatia, the EU, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the U.K.
The ROC and U.S. have long enjoyed close relations that reflect a shared respect for liberty, democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law. With bilateral ties at their highest point in 10 years, it is now time for the U.S. to recognize the value of this special friendship and join the growing list of nations that have extended visa-free entry to ROC nationals and afforded Taiwan the respect it deserves.
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