U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2006)

U.S. Department of State

OSAC's Top 10 Overseas Security Trends for the U.S. Private Sector in 2006

Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC
December 27, 2006

Contact: Kendal Smith
571-345-2509
FAX: 571-345-2527
SmithLK2@state.gov

OSAC Says Radicalism, Corruption, Intellectual Property Theft Among Growing Threats

Increased political radicalism, rising crime and corruption, pirating of intellectual property, and military conflict were among the top security challenges of 2006 confronting U.S. businesses, nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions operating abroad, according to a year-end analysis by the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC).

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Theft of intellectual property and natural disasters posed the greatest threat to U.S. businesses and other private-sector organizations operating in Asia.

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OSAC's Top 10 Private-Sector Security Issues Worldwide for 2006

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Asia: Violation of Intellectual Property Rights
Piracy and other violations of intellectual property rights have quickly become one of Asia's key regional issues. With an influx of U.S. and multinational companies investing in overseas operations via outsourcing and other business practices, this issue is one that will not fade soon. India and China, Asia's two largest players on the international business stage, are countries where the U.S. private sector faced the most intense threat of IPR-related commercial losses.

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About OSAC

The Overseas Security Advisory Council was established in 1985 as a Federal Advisory Committee with a U.S. Government Charter to promote security cooperation between the U.S. Department of State and American business and private sector interests worldwide.

With a constituency of more than 3,500 U.S. companies and other private-sector organizations with overseas interests, OSAC operates a Web site (www.osac.gov), which offers its members the latest in safety- and security-related information, public announcements, warden messages, travel advisories, significant anniversary dates, terrorist group profiles, country crime and safety reports, special topic reports, foreign press reports, and much more.

The OSAC staff includes international security research specialists dedicated solely to serving the U.S. private sector. Additionally, OSAC has a network of 100 country councils around the world that brings together U.S. embassies and consulates with the local U.S. community to share security information.

OSAC is co-chaired by the Director of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and a selected representative of the private sector. The OSAC Executive Director is a Diplomatic Security Special Agent.

About The Bureau of Diplomatic Security

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the U.S. Department of State's law enforcement and security arm. The special agents, engineers, and security professionals of the Bureau are responsible for the security of 285 U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world.

In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel investigate passport and visa fraud, conduct personnel security investigations, and protect the Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States. More information about the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security may be obtained at www.state.gov/m/ds.