Senior U.S. security official kicks off SE Asian tour
Senior U.S. security official kicks off SE Asian tour
Agencies, Singapore
United States Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge met with Singaporean officials on Monday and inspected a border checkpoint as part of a Southeast Asian tour aimed at coordinating the American-led war against terrorism with regional allies.
Ridge met with Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng to discuss ways the two nations can cooperate more closely in regional security, Wong's ministry said in a statement.
Ridge did not talk to reporters during a tour of the Woodlands checkpoint, Singapore's main land crossing to neighboring Malaysia. He is expected to speak about global terrorism at an event hosted by the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies on Tuesday.
While in Singapore, Ridge is also scheduled to meet with 20 senior diplomats, many of whom are from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He said earlier some countries have expressed concerns over visa restrictions following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Ridge saw firsthand last week how the restrictions, which require visa applicants to be interviewed, have hurt the United States during a stopover in Hawaii.
He was told that the World Chinese Life Insurance Congress canceled a meeting in Honolulu in August because of visa problems. The event was expected to attract 3,200 visitors and bring US$18.7 million to the state.
Ridge is due to leave Singapore on Wednesday. U.S. officials here have declined to release details of his schedule, citing security reasons.
But Reuters reported that Ridge will speak on global terrorism in Bangkok on Friday.
Ridge has also postponed a visit to Malaysia because of a snap general election campaign here, the U.S. Embassy confirmed on Monday.
The postponement came at the request of the Malaysian government, which is contesting polls called for March 21, embassy spokesman Frank Whitaker said. A new date was not announced.