New Southbound Policy Portal

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is grateful for allies and like-minded partners backing Taiwan’s bid for meaningful participation in Interpol. (MOFA)
 

The staunch backing of allies and like-minded partners for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in Interpol is sincerely appreciated by the government and people, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oct. 19.
 
Allies Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kingdom of Eswatini, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Paraguay, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines sent letters to Interpol President Kim Jong-yang urging Taiwan’s participation in the international police organization as an observer, the MOFA said.
 
During Interpol’s general assembly Oct. 15-18 in Santiago, Chile, representatives from Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Kingdom of Eswatini, Paraguay and St. Kitts and Nevis also voiced support for Taiwan, the ministry added.
 
This strong backing underscores the legitimacy of Taiwan’s Interpol participation, the MOFA said, adding that it further reflects the discontent of the international community with the exclusion of the country from the global security network on the grounds of politics.
 
Support for Taiwan was received from officials, lawmakers and legislative bodies from 14 countries. These include a statement by Patrick Murphy, then acting deputy assistant secretary for Southeast Asia with the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs under the U.S. Department of State, and the passage of the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019 in May by the U.S. House of Representatives.
 
In addition, an op-ed outlining how Taiwan Can Help build a safer and more secure world by Huang Ming-chao, commissioner of the Criminal Investigation Bureau Commissioner under the Ministry of the Interior, has been carried by 49 international media outlets, the ministry said.
 
As an important stakeholder in the global community, Taiwan is willing and able to make greater contributions, the MOFA said, adding that it is imperative Interpol upholds its constitution and makes proper and swift arrangements for Taiwan to take part in its activities, mechanisms and meetings.
 
Established in 1923 and headquartered in France, Interpol is the world’s second largest intergovernmental organization after the U.N. with 194 member states. It facilitates borderless police cooperation to enhance public safety and battles such criminal activities as corruption, human trafficking and money laundering. (SFC-E)