ROC’s Interpol oberver bid backed by US Senate

2016/02/02

A bill boosting Taiwan’s participation in the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) was passed unanimously Jan. 28 by the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Introduced by Sen. Cory Gardner and co-sponsored by Sen. Ben Cardin, S 2426 follows HR 1853, which was approved without dissent by the House of Representatives last November.

The two bills direct the U.S. president and Department of State to develop a strategy to help Taiwan obtain observer status in Interpol and its related activities. This highlights the importance of including Taiwan in international organizations for the U.S. and global community, according to the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan is ready, willing and able to play a vital part in the global initiative to thwart acts of terrorism and crime against humanity,” a MOFA official said.

“Building on our stalwart partnership with the U.S., Taiwan will continue garnering assistance and support from other law enforcement authorities around the world, with the aim of expanding the country’s international space while furthering Interpol participation.”

Based in Lyon, France, Interpol is the world’s largest international police organization with 190 member countries and territories. It enables borderless police cooperation in enhancing public safety while battling such crimes as corruption, human trafficking, intellectual property rights violations and money laundering.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=241942&ctNode=2194&mp=9)