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Taiwan calls lack of Interpol invitation 'regrettable'

ROC Central News Agency

10/18/2022 02:13 PM

Taipei, Oct. 18 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expressed "serious dissatisfaction" Tuesday that Taiwan was again not invited to the International Criminal Police Organization's (Interpol) annual General Assembly, which opens Tuesday in New Delhi.

"We find it deeply regrettable that Interpol has allowed political factors to override policing expertise by disregarding Taiwan's practical needs to meaningfully participate in the organization's meetings," MOFA spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said at a news briefing.

The Republic of China (R.O.C.), the official name of Taiwan, is a sovereign, independent democratic state and is not subordinate to the autocratic People's Republic of China (PRC), Ou said.

Only the democratically elected government of Taiwan has the right to represent the Taiwanese people on the international stage, she said.

Ou's comments came after Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock said Monday that the international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation cannot grant observer status to Taiwan because it sees Taiwan as part of the PRC.

"In 1984, the Interpol General Assembly recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole representation of China," he said during a press event ahead of Interpol's 90th General Assembly in response to CNA's question on the issue.

"As such, Interpol recognizes Taiwan is part of China and as China is a member of Interpol, Interpol cannot grant Taiwan observer status in the General Assembly," he said.

"Arrangements were put in place" after 1984 in order to enable Interpol National Central Bureaus and the "China-Taiwan police administration" to exchange information through "Interpol channels," he said, without elaborating.

Ou said Tuesday that Taiwan's police system has always operated independently and smoothly outside that of the PRC's.

"As an important member of the international police community, Taiwan is highly willing to contribute to cross-border crime fighting but cannot establish direct and real-time information sharing with Interpol simply due to China's obstruction," she said.

Taiwan will continue to ask its diplomatic allies and like-minded countries around the globe to support its bid to join Interpol so as to ensure that no gaps and loopholes exist in the global fight against cross-border crime, Ou said.

The 90th Interpol General Assembly is taking place in New Delhi until Friday, featuring chiefs of police and senior officials from its 195 members around the world to address global security issues.

The R.O.C. joined Interpol in 1961 but was forced to withdraw in 1984 after the entry of the PRC. Its participation has been blocked since then under a resolution passed at Interpol's 53rd General Assembly the same year.

Taiwan has sought to take part in Interpol's General Assembly as an observer since 2016, but repeated attempts to secure an invitation have been to no avail.

(By Joseph Yeh)

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