Bipartisan U.S. bill to boost U.S.-Taiwan travel introduced

Taipei, Feb. 26 (CNA) U.S. Senators on Tuesday introduced the Taiwan Travel and Tourism Coordination Act to strengthen bilateral travel and cooperation.

The bill, proposed by Republican Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Brian Schatz, seeks to establish "robust security screenings for those traveling to the U.S. from Asia, open new markets for American industry, and strengthen the economic partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan," according to a statement.

The statement said that "travel and tourism play a crucial role in a nation's economic security." Yet, Taiwan faces "pressure and coercion from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)" in this sector.

As Taiwan is a "vital trading partner and ally in the Indo-Pacific region," the U.S. must "assist our allies in stabilizing their economies and growing their national industries," the statement said.

Schatz, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and representing Hawaii, said the bill would help "unlock more economic opportunities for the people of Taiwan, Hawaii and our entire country."

On the other hand, "the CCP's campaign for global dominance also presents a clear threat to U.S. interests," Blackburn said.

She said the U.S. needs to secure the homeland, and the act would assist in "achieving enhanced security at foreign airports," as it requires the federal government to study the feasibility of establishing a "pre-clearance" facility in Taiwan.

Pre-clearance is the "strategic stationing of Customs and Border Protection personnel at designated foreign airports to inspect travelers prior to boarding U.S.-bound flights," according to the statement.

The measure would "enhance security, increase collaboration, and streamline travel," the statement said.

The statement also noted that there is currently no preclearance facility in Asia, despite "an annual average of over 4 million travelers from the continent."

U.S. lawmakers had pushed for Taiwan's participation in a preclearance program in December 2021.

However, then-Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) confirmed in March 2022 that "the U.S. thought Taiwan was too safe, and had to prioritize more dangerous regions."

(By Chung Yu-chen and Wu Kuan-hsien)

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