Research on cross-strait cooperation against terrorism

Since the Islamic State (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant，ISIL, a.k.a. ISIS, IS) became a rising power in 2014, it led to a series of terrorist incidents around the world in the past few years. The terror attacks has been haunted over the human civilizations. All casualties and destructions caused by it could be countless and linger as an unwakeable nightmarefor the whole victims. Whether Islamic State or Al-Qaeda which competes leading position among all the international terrorist organizations, have repeatedly undertaken extremely cruel means to harm innocent people. Though Taiwan suffers a relatively low probability from terror attacks, we must keep a cautious mind for potential risk. Foremost and basically, the government should bring up common counter-terrorism awareness and preparations, and then have to establish our own systematic protection and reacting measures. Moreover, on the solid basis, we could explore for international cooperation against terrorism. Especially, there is existing Cross-strait criminal judicial cooperation tie with Mainland China and finds a way to go more far such like cooperation on anti-terrorism more effectively containing initiative warning and reaction. In this disturbing era, we must be more vigilant. The administration should enhance efficiencies on national security mechanism and make sure it function well. However, the current Homeland Security Office under the Executive Yuan fear which in charge of Anti-terrorism preparations seems underpowered. Meanwhile, the specialized anti-terrorism law delayed in the process in Legislature Yuan so far, makes us weak for further integration with the international community and far behind by European nations, United States, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. We know it would be a huge challenge to strike a balance between human rights protection and efficient terrorists fighting for the authority. Through we have to move forwards no matter how difficult it will be. Pragmatically, in a short term, we can still work on transportations managements, goods inspection, personnel training and critical infrastructure protection. Doing something surely better than nothing. Counter-terrorism partnership with the mainland could be carried out by stages, through basic and common issue to deeper integration, and we may begin from the exchange of intelligence resources to a functional Cross-strait Counter-terrorism Conference step by step, with remaining moderate cautious awareness, especially concerning national security and confidential matters. But, it shall not be excessively restricted by such precautions. We need more efforts to identify the needs and gaps of counter-terrorism cooperation for both sides. Thorough mutual understandings of terrorism awareness and more solid foundation, to the end, we may have a chance to build a common ground and work together to expand cooperation against terrorism, in a hostile but interdependent relation. This study aims to analyze the backgrounds on both sides of counter-terrorism cooperation, a common basis, law norms, organizational structures, personnel and functional measures and outlook the potentiality of cross-strait cooperation against terrorism Construction Conference.