Taipei, Aug. 14 (CNA) The United States' new representative to Taiwan has lauded Taiwan's law enforcement expertise and called it a reliable partner in combating cross-border crime.
Brent Christensen, the new director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), delivered the praise at the first-ever crime-fighting and forensic science workshop held under a U.S.-Taiwan cooperation framework that opened in Taipei on Tuesday.
The workshop had 26 participants from 16 countries, and Christensen said all those who took part did so because they have shared values and shared concerns.
"Nobody can deny the threat posed by illegal narcotics, counterfeit currency, and passport fraud. We can all agree that reductions in crime, the promotion of public safety, and more integrated law enforcement networks benefit all our peoples," he said.
"People in Taiwan respect the law and trust the authorities to protect them. This confidence in law enforcement has not only strengthened the security and stability of Taiwan, but that of the region," he said.
"That's why we have included Taiwan in our global entry and visa waiver programs. That's why our Drug Enforcement Administration and secret service officials are here to share best practices to make law enforcement networks stronger," he added.
Christensen said the launch of the workshop will allow all of its participants to recognize Taiwan as "a hub of law enforcement expertise, a reliable partner, and a force for good in the world."
The two-day workshop is jointly co-hosted by the AIT, which represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau.
Also at the workshop, Premier Lai Ching-te acknowledged the diplomatic challenges posed by Taiwan's unique international status but said they have not prevented the country from sharing its expertise with the world.
"We do our best in order to be a regional peacemaker and progressive contributor. We fulfill our obligations and actively establish relationships with other countries based on mutual respect," Lai said.
Justice Minister Tsai Ching-hsiang said, meanwhile, that one of the main focuses of the two-day workshop will be on combating drug smuggling.
Taiwan has always welcomed cooperation from foreign law enforcement officials in investigating cases, providing training, and sharing experiences.
He said Taiwan is "keen to build a cooperation platform" with other countries to strengthen law enforcement capabilities and maintain regional stability and security on the basis of mutual assistance and benefit.
This is the 12th workshop held under the U.S.-Taiwan Global Cooperation Training Framework (GCTF) since its inception in June 2015.
More than 200 representatives from 33 countries in the Asia-Pacific region have taken part in the workshops under the GCTF so far, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
