Belize and Taiwan Sign Cooperation Agreement for Maritime Security

A cooperation agreement between Belize and Taiwan was signed this morning by Minister of National Defense and Border Security Florencio Marin Junior and Ambassador David Kuan-Chou Chien on behalf of the Ocean Affairs Council.  The scope of the agreement includes search and rescue, fisheries enforcement and combating transnational crime at sea.  Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, explains how the M.O.U. came about and what it means for maritime security.

Elton Bennett

RADM Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard

“It has only been a very few short months since the initial draft of the agreement between the Republic of China, Taiwan and the Government of Belize was created that provided a framework for security cooperation between the Ocean Affairs Council in Taiwan and the Ministry of National Defense and Border Security in Belize.  From my understandings our initial plans were suitable for a Memorandum of Understanding; however, after engagements between the two ministries, it was decided that the formal, higher level agreement was necessary.  So that is where we are today, after expertise input on what we want to achieve between both sides, both organizations, we are able to sit and sign this agreement that will not only open doors for our internal capacity development but will result in the Belize Coast Guard having a new partner in maritime security.  This is an exciting undertaking for us, one that offers depth, not only to the strategic development of our organization, but the broader governmental initiatives for conservation and security in our sea spaces.  There’s much to learn from Taiwan and I am sure that there is much to offer Belize as it relates to the management of the marine environment.”