The Executive Yuan's Office of Homeland Security (OHS) and the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction is joining hands with the United States to host a workshop in Taipei October 16-17 to help improve the capabilities of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies in protecting the region's critical infrastructure.
The aims of the APEC Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience Workshop are to allow representatives from APEC economies to exchange opinions with security experts, build consensus on the protection of critical infrastructure, identify critical elements thereof, and explore the impact of natural disasters.
Part of a U.S.-led initiative under the APEC Counter Terrorism Working Group (CTWG), the workshop also invited the APEC Emergency Preparedness Working Group (EPWG) to discuss critical infrastructure protection from an all-hazards approach. This marks the first time that the CTWG and EPWG have come together for a cross-disciplinary workshop, underscoring the diversity of APEC-related issues.
Attending the workshop are delegates from 15 APEC members (the United States, Canada, Singapore, Russia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Peru, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and Chinese Taipei), as well as representatives from the International Maritime Organization and the Organization of American States.
Main topics of discussion include the factors affecting critical infrastructure security and resilience, the potential threat of natural disasters, and the effects of critical infrastructure disruption on global supply chains. The APEC delegations will have opportunities to share experience and information with experts in the field and discuss a variety of hazard scenarios and possible impacts. After the workshop, the delegations will tour an emergency response center operated by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Directorate General of Highways.
The workshop's conclusions and recommendations will be forwarded to the APEC Concluding Senior Officials' Meeting scheduled this coming November in mainland China. The results will also guide the OHS in making policies to enhance critical infrastructure protection in Taiwan, Executive Yuan officials said.