Global cooperation needed to combat transnational crime

Article 2 of the Constitution of the ICPO-INTERPOL states that INTERPOL’s “aims are to ensure and promote the widest possible mutual assistance between all criminal police authorities.”

The 92nd INTERPOL General Assembly is being held from Nov. 4 to 7, 2024 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. The rapid advancement of information and communication technology has transformed crime in recent years. Criminal activities are of an increasingly cross-border, organized and anonymous nature, with financial transactions taking place in virtual spaces. This puts all countries and peoples at risk. To combat transnational crime, nations must work together, provide mutual assistance and share information – notions fully commensurate with the Constitution of INTERPOL.

According to Numbeo’s safety index, Taiwan is the fourth-safest country in the world, with a crime rate fourth-lowest among 146 countries. Moreover, in 2023, the Expat Insider annual survey published by InterNations ranked Taiwan the fifth most-livable country, second for quality of life, eighth for safety and first for quality of health care.

Although Taiwan enjoys strong law enforcement capabilities and cooperates with friendly forces as part of criminal investigations, Taiwan can only access critical intelligence indirectly due to its exclusion from INTERPOL. By the time that information is received, it is often outdated, creating a challenging situation that allows transnational crime to thrive and exacerbates the harm done all around the world.

For example, with Taiwanese passports providing visa-free entry to more than 160 countries around the world, Taiwanese police authorities have already uncovered numerous cases of Taiwanese passports being illegally traded by criminal groups in other countries. Criminal elements in a number of countries have fraudulently used Taiwanese passports to engage in illegal activities that have threatened international security and caused serious breaches in global order. Taiwan’s exclusion from INTERPOL prevents Taiwan’s law enforcement authorities from accessing the organization’s communication system or international crime database. It also prevents Taiwan from obtaining the latest criminal information in a timely fashion or from sharing intelligence on wanted persons associated with major cases such as fraud and drug trafficking.

Likewise, Taiwan is unable to provide crucial information – such as information on emerging criminal methods and experiences of investigating these crimes, and data on forged passports – to other countries. This hampers efforts to prevent and stop criminal activities at their source.

Without Taiwan, the network of maintaining international security is incomplete. Taiwan’s exclusion from INTERPOL is a significant loss to the global community. The resolution adopted by INTERPOL at its 53rd General Assembly in 1984 did not preclude Taiwan’s participation. Taiwan’s police authorities are willing to participate in INTERPOL mechanisms on the basis of equal status, and remain determined to resolve law and order issues, minimize loss of life and property and protect people’s well-being. Taiwan is committed to working with the world to fight transnational crime.

We urge our Filipino brothers and sisters to speak up for Taiwan on the international stage and to take action to support Taiwan’s bid to participate as an observer in the 92nd INTERPOL General Assembly in Glasgow, UK and to engage in INTERPOL meetings, mechanisms, and activities, including access to the I-24/7 global police communications system and INTERPOL training programs. – Wallace Minn-Gan Chow, Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines