New Southbound Policy Portal

An international workshop on transnational crime and forensic science staged under the Taiwan-U.S. Global Cooperation and Training Framework wrapped up Aug. 15 in Taipei City, with 26 law enforcement officials from 16 countries gathering to share information and best practices.
 
Jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and American Institute in Taiwan, the two-day event was the first of its kind held under the GCTF, a platform launched in 2015 for expanding collaboration on major regional and global issues.
 
Representatives from the MJIB as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Secret Service under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security delivered lectures on topics including counterfeit money detection, drug crime trends, narcotics enforcement and passport fraud.
 
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Premier Lai Ching-te said that the fight against illegal drugs necessitates transnational cooperation, adding that as a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan stands ready to work with partner nations in addressing this challenge.
 
Echoing Lai’s remarks, MOFA Deputy Minister Hsu Szu-chien said that in the era of globalization, tackling crime requires worldwide cooperation among intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Through this partnership program with the U.S., Taiwan is sharing its crime-fighting capabilities so as to create a safe and stable environment facilitating regional development, he added.
 
AIT Director William Brent Christensen described GCTF as a prime example of the multifaceted cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. The framework spotlights Taiwan’s diverse expertise, he said, adding that the nation’s democratic development and international contributions are deserving of the global community’s respect.
 
Since the inception of GCTF, Taiwan and the U.S. have organized 12 workshops in areas including disaster relief, e-commerce, education, energy, environmental protection, humanitarian assistance, public health and women’s empowerment. To date, more than 200 representatives from 33 countries have attended these events, according to the MOFA. (KWS-E)
 
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