The U.S. Department of State agreed to put Taiwan on its list of Visa Waiver Program candidate countries Dec. 22, a gesture seen as reflecting the growing strength of Taiwan-U.S. relations. The decisions also stands as welcome affirmation of ROC government efforts to expand Taiwan’s international space in recent years.
Both Taiwan and the U.S. share common democratic values and systems. In traditional and non-traditional security areas, Taiwan has always taken a cooperative stand with the U.S. It is not surprising to hear U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton openly declare at the latest APEC meeting that Taiwan is an important security and economic partner for the U.S.
The inclusion of Taiwan as a VWP candidate country is one of a series of U.S. good-will gestures. In September, the U.S. OK’d an F-16 A/B fighter upgrade package worth US$5.85 billion. Kurt Campbell, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, reiterated Oct. 4 Washington’s commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act during a U.S. Congress hearing. Moreover, high-ranking U.S. officials such as Rajiv Shah, U.S. Agency for International Development chief, and Daniel Poneman, U.S. deputy secretary of energy, have visited Taiwan one after another—solid evidence of the wonderful interaction and mutual trust between Taiwan and the U.S.
The U.S. government’s inclusion of Taiwan as a VWP candidate also implies that Taiwan’s passport security, visa rejection rate, border control and information sharing are all in line with U.S. standards. The law-abiding spirit of the people in Taiwan, furthermore, is acknowledged by the United States.
Taiwan’s rejection rate in applying for U.S. visas dropped to 1.9 percent over the past year, a further indication of the quality of Taiwan people and another persuasive factor in the country’s favor when it comes to getting U.S. visa-free entry.
Taiwan’s inclusion on VWP candidate list not only highlights the positive state of Taiwan-U.S. ties, but also symbolizes a new phase for the two countries. However, there are still many bridges to cross for Taiwan and the U.S. For instance, talks need to commence under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters—a goal both nations must continue to strive for.
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