Interpol against Taiwan's efforts to seek participation

ROC Central News Agency

2018/10/18 12:14:37

Paris, Oct. 18 (CNA) The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), sent a message Wednesday that states unequivocally that it is not in favor of Taiwan's efforts to seek participation in the organization's activities.

In an email message, Interpol stated clearly that it considers China to be the sole Chinese representative to the organization.

The group did not respond directly to a CNA question on its stance on Taiwan's efforts to participate as an observer in Interpol's General Assembly to be held Nov. 16-21 in Dubai.

"In 1984, the Interpol General Assembly decided that the government of the People's Republic of China will be the sole representative to Interpol," the Lyon-headquartered organization said in the email.

On Monday, Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) issued a statement saying that its Commissioner Tsai Tsan-po (蔡蒼柏) had sent a letter to Interpol in September requesting that the CIB be allowed to participate as an observer in next month's general assembly and in the organization's activities, including the use of the global criminal databases through Interpol's I-24/7 system.

In Interpol, every member has its own National Central Bureau, which is responsible for communications with the group for international cooperation to prevent and crack down on crimes.

Interpol said any expansion of access to each other's criminal databases via the organization's I-24/7 system beyond a National Central Bureau is "a matter for the member country concerned." Currently, Interpol has 192 member countries.

The Republic of China used to be an Interpol member country, but since China was admitted into the organization in 1984 and planned to change the name of the ROC into "China, Taiwan," Taipei decided to withdraw from the group.

Bob Chen (陳龍錦), director-general of the Department of International Organizations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the ministry has asked friendly countries who are members of the Interpol executive committee to speak up for Taiwan at a committee meeting to be held in early November before the assembly begins.

The United States has repeatedly voiced its support for Taiwan's "meaningful" participation in international organizations, including Interpol.

Interior Minister Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) reiterated Wednesday the government's desire to participate in Interpol, stressing the need for international cooperation in fighting drug smuggling, saying that China should not block Taiwan's bid to join Interpol.

(By Tzeng Yi-shiuan and Frances Huang)
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