The terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, shocked the international community. All countries immediately reviewed their national security systems and responded with substantive actions. United Nations Security Council Resolution Number 1373, adopted on September 28, 2001, lists a series of legally binding obligations to be fulfilled by all UN members.
Although the Republic of China is not a UN member, it has, in accordance with the aforementioned and other resolutions, adopted various efforts to combat acts of international terrorism. The ROC has been working together with the international community and in coordination with the United States in particular, to fully implement various measures against terrorism. The actions are as follows:
I. Actions taken by the ROC after the September 11, 2001, attacks
A.
After the September 11 attacks, President Chen Shui-bian immediately ordered, on the same day, relevant ROC departments to take the following measures:
*Reinforce protection for US personnel and facilities in Taiwan;
*Maintain order and security at airports and harbors;
*Strengthen control over individuals suspected of having terrorist connections;
*Set up emergency centers in the attacked areas and provide timely assistance; and
*Express support to the US and condemn the attacks.
Since the attacks, President Chen has convened four meetings of high-ranking officials, instructing the police to strengthen their protection of foreign residents, embassies, representative offices, and related organizations in Taiwan. He emphasized that the ROC government will actively maintain close contact with the US government, collect relevant information, and provide necessary assistance to the US or international anti-terrorist organizations.
The ROC government cooperates with other countries in exchanging intelligence and information, security inspection, anti-money laundering, and energy security mechanisms. The executive and legislative branches should seek a consensus on various anti-terrorist conventions and resolutions passed by the United Nations, so that these can be incorporated into domestic law.
B.
September 11 Task Force
*A September 11 Task Force was established, with the secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC) as convener. The task force has a committee and an information center. The NSC is in charge of collecting and preparing intelligence reports and recommending policies in coordination with other authorities. To date, the task force has held eight inter-ministerial and other meetings to coordinate and review various anti-terrorist activities.
C.
Specific actions taken by government ministries
* On September 28, the National Security Bureau convened a meeting of intelligence agencies to ensure the implementation of the proposals of the NSC to enhance national security after the September 11 incident.
* On October 3, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung instructed all intelligence, finance, economic, and judicial departments to cooperate in the government's anti-terrorist campaign. The government will take necessary legal and administrative steps in accordance with ROC laws and the spirit of all UN anti-terrorism conventions and resolutions. It will not sponsor or harbor terrorist organizations and their followers and will consider freezing their assets. Meanwhile, the government will strengthen the exchange of intelligence with other countries and offer assistance in criminal investigations and criminal procedures that help to prevent and punish acts of terrorism.
* On October 9, President Chen invited Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng and leaders of major political parties to attend a briefing on the September 11 incident held by the Office of the President, which explained the government's measures in response to the current situation and the maintenance of national security.
* The Legislative Yuan approved the establishment of the September 11 Incident Supervisory Task Force, which will invite top officials from the National Security Bureau and other relevant ministries of the Executive Yuan to attend Legislature meetings and report on the government's response measures.
* The Ministry of the Interior vigorously strengthened its efforts to gather entry information on international terrorists and successfully collected such information on a total of 598 terrorists, who were on the watch list provided by the authorities concerned. It also continued the strict screening of entry and exit applications according to the watch list to prevent terrorists from entering the country to conduct disruptive activities.
* The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee of the Legislative Yuan jointly pushed for a "resolution supporting anti-terrorist activities by the Legislative Yuan," echoing the anti-terrorist measures of the executive branch.
* Based upon consultations and data provided by the American Institute in Taiwan, the National Bureau of Investigation checked more than 800 specific companies, 500 ROC citizens and foreigners, 200 bank accounts, and 86 foreign exchange transactions.
* The Ministry of Justice, using drafts of anti-terrorist laws in the US and other countries as an aid, is pushing for legislation on "anti-terrorist activities.
* The Ministry of Education and the cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung encouraged students at all levels in Taiwan to send their condolences to the families of victims of the September 11 incident.
* The Ministry of Transportation and Communications ordered all harbor authorities to hold anti-terrorist mobilization drills and asked seven companies, including Yangming Marine Transport Corporation, to draft emergency measures.
* Responding to a US request, the Ministry of Finance investigated the accounts of 58 suspected terrorist organizations, and informed the US government about the investigation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and AIT.
* The Board of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Economic Affairs set up an online database of the "September 11 impact on the economy and trade," showing relevant measures in response to the impact of the September 11 incident by the ROC and foreign governments.
D.
Financial and material assistance given by the ROC government and Taiwan's private sector
The ROC government and Taiwan's private sector have donated money and materials worth approximately US$20 million.
* The ROC government donated US$500,000 for relief and reconstruction work to New York City through the Red Cross Society of the ROC. In addition, the Red Cross Society of the ROC made a direct donation of US$54,000 to the American Red Cross.
* Control Yuan President Fredrick F. Chien donated US$1 million to the New York City government on behalf of the ROC government, during a special visit to the US accompanied by officials of various Taiwanese charity organizations, such as the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation and World Vision Taiwan.
* The ROC Meditation Association donated US$200,000 to New York City through the American Red Cross Society of New York.
* The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, in cooperation with Knightsbridge International, donated US$50,000 for the purchase of relief supplies for Afghan refugees. The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation also mobilized members of its North American branch to assist with rescue and relief efforts in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, helping roughly 1,400 families and providing approximately US$700,000 in financial assistance. Related relief work is still being carried out today.
* World Vision Taiwan donated US$20,000 to aid Afghan refugees and an additional US$10,000 through its affiliated church system to the World Vision United States for the September 11 incident relief work.
* The Buddha's Light International Association launched a fund-raising campaign in the US, raising over US$200,000 for the relief work.
* The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in active cooperation with domestic non-governmental organizations, delivered humanitarian relief to Afghan refugees and led fact-finding teams to Iran to study the refugees' needs and conditions. Humanitarian relief efforts included donations of medicine, food, blankets, tents, vehicles, and other supplies worth over US$7 million. The ROC government also formed strategic alliances with international NGOs, such as Mercy Corp. International, for the shipping of relief supplies to refugee camps. Such supplies have already been sent to roughly 7,000 families in the war-torn areas of Afghanistan, providing timely warmth and relief to refugees before the onset of winter.
* VIA Technologies, Inc. donated US$1 million to the families of victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
* Overseas Chinese communities across the US have made total donations in excess of US$7 million for the September 11 incident relief work and even now are continuing to raise more funds.
* The ROC donated vehicles valued at US$2 million to support the transportation of relief supplies.
II. Actions taken to implement Item 1 of Resolution 1373 adopted by the United Nations Security Council
A. Strengthening security and defense measures
Strengthening the collection of advance-warning information about the arrival in Taiwan of members of international organizations engaged in terrorism, violence, anti-war activities, and the manufacture and trafficking of illegal biological and chemical materials and arms;
Strengthening security and defense measures for such places as central government agencies, foreign embassies and representative offices and schools, and their personnel;
Continually strengthening the protection of foreign nationals, embassies, representative offices, official residences, and schools of the United States, Great Britain, Israel, and NATO countries participating in the war;
Strictly inspecting identity papers and travel documents at entry and exit points such as airports and harbors, and carrying out security and defense drills; and
Strengthening the protection of basic infrastructure, including nuclear power plants, oil storage facilities, water reservoirs, and power generating plants.
B. Search for suspicious elements
Strengthening inspections for foreign and Middle Eastern nationals, illegal mainland Chinese entrants, Moslems, anti-war activists, and personnel from suspicious biochemical plants and precision machinery manufacturing plants, who have overstayed their visas in Taiwan;
Strictly inspecting the areas in and around science-based industrial parks, airports, harbors, water reservoirs, power generating plants, and other important facilities to effectively prevent acts of sabotage; and
Denying the entry of terrorists suspected of involvement in the September 11 incident and members of the Osama group, based upon the list provided by the US.
C. Enhancing Taiwan's capability to deal with biochemical threats
The Ministry of the Interior established standard operating procedures for police agencies for the latter to cooperate in the Environmental Protection Administration's safety drills against terrorist chemical attacks.
Workshops for basic defense and protection against deadly biological and chemical materials have been held. Related information has been compiled for police officers to identify deadly biological and chemical materials, operate equipment, and be familiar with handling procedures.
Patrols have been increased at train and mass rapid transit stations, department stores, and other important commercial areas, which could become easy targets of biological and chemical attacks.
D. Interception of money laundering
Based upon the list of terrorists or terrorist groups and related information provided by AIT, we have thoroughly checked the bank accounts and foreign exchange records of specific companies and ROC and foreign nationals.
In accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1373 on terrorism, we have promoted the amendment of the Money Laundering Control Law in order to freeze the accounts of the suspects involved in terrorist activities and include the sharing system of transnational confiscation as the legal basis for providing transnational reciprocal assistance.
The National Bureau of Investigation has sent agents to attend a US-organized conference on blocking the funds of terrorist organizations held in Washington, D.C.
We have vigorously exchanged financial information related to the September 11 incident with the Financial Intelligence Units (FIU) of the world.
We have established a database to check the financial accounts of the terrorist organizations and strengthened our ability to analyze possible transnational money laundering transactions.
We have actively conducted educational and training courses on money laundering control for our financial organizations.
We have sent agents to participate in conferences held by the Egmont Group and the Asia/Pacific Group (APG) on Money Laundering to establish contact channels, acquire the latest knowledge on international control of money laundering, and exchange experiences and courses of action.
III. Actions taken to implement Item 2 of Resolution 1373 adopted by the United Nations Security Council
A. Actively promoting judicial assistance pacts or memorandums
Article 14 of the Money Laundering Control Law allows the ROC government to sign reciprocal agreements with other nations. Under the current diplomatic circumstances, the ROC has not been able to effectively open the channel of transnational judicial assistance.
However, we have negotiated with the US over a Taiwan-US judicial assistance pact. On January 16, the Legislative Yuan ratified the judicial assistance pact between the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States and the American Institute in Taiwan.
Although the pact does not include such items as extradition and exchange of criminals, it will establish a formal cooperative channel for law enforcement personnel from Taiwan and the US to jointly combat drug trafficking, money laundering, economic crimes, and internet crimes. This has a positive meaning for bilateral judicial cooperation.
B. ROC overseas representatives have actively collected anti-terrorist measures and regulations instituted by foreign governments for use by relevant authorities.
C. The Ministry of Finance has required all financial institutions to confirm the identity of customers, retain transaction certificates, and report the cases of suspected money laundering. In addition, financial institutions have strengthened education and training for newcomers and staff on conducting internal audits.
D. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other immigration agencies should strictly review and approve visa applications. Limitations on the entry of terrorists should be enhanced. The online databank of the ROC offices in foreign countries should be connected with the database of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and opened for use by related agencies. Only by so doing can we effectively stop terrorists from slipping into Taiwan and using Taiwan as a relay nation into other countries.
E. The prevention of money laundering is an important aspect of the integrated anti-terrorism system of the international community. The ROC should actively ask the US to assist Taiwan in joining all kinds of international anti-terrorist and anti-money laundering organizations, such as the FATF and G20, in order to enhance cooperative relations between the ROC and other nations. In addition, the ROC should take advantage of participating in international anti-terrorist and anti-money laundering conferences to exchange views and experiences with other countries and improve the ROC's work in anti-terrorism and the prevention of money laundering.
IV. Actions taken to implement Item 3 of Resolution 1373 adopted by the United Nations Security Council
A. The ROC should keep close contact with the Taipei office of the American Institute in Taiwan and its other related agencies as well as strengthen the security measures for safeguarding their personnel, offices and US citizens. The ROC should also ask the US to provide timely information on the suspects caught and their interrogations in order to work together with the US to eradicate international terrorist organizations and their activities.
B. The ROC should strengthen cooperation on exchanging international intelligence with other nations and closely monitor the development of terrorist organizations and recognize the early indications that terrorists might perpetrate damage.
C. The ROC should integrate all anti-terrorist information collected by the intelligence agencies in order to set up a database on international terrorism.
D. The ROC should strengthen the training of personnel with special language skills and enhance research on anti-terrorist activities in order to upgrade the ROC's ability to study and analyze relevant information.