The Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the International Criminal Police Organization Dec. 9 for jeopardizing its cause and mission by excluding Taiwan due to political considerations.
The 93rd session of the Interpol General Assembly was held Nov. 24-27 in Marrakech, Morocco, the MOFA said. Its theme of safety through unity was upheld by Taiwan’s allies, namely Belize, Eswatini, Guatemala, Paraguay, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Marshall Islands, who demonstrated support in various ways to ensure understanding within international society of the importance of including Taiwan.
The ministry reiterated that after the end of World War II, the Treaty of San Francisco, which reestablished peaceful relations with Japan, did not assign Taiwan to Beijing. It added that the People’s Republic of China has never ruled Taiwan, which is a sovereign and independent country.
Open support for Taiwan’s meaningful involvement in Interpol and other global organizations has been growing, the MOFA said. Officials from the European External Action Service, Ireland, Sweden, and the U.K., as well as the foreign ministers of G7 countries and those of Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. have spoken on the topic, the ministry added.
Similarly, the legislative bodies of various countries have also shown strong support. In the U.S. a bipartisan group of five representatives proposed the Taiwan Interpol Endorsement and Inclusion Act to request that the secretary of state devise a strategy to facilitate Taiwan’s inclusion in the body. The ministry pointed out that the parliaments of Brazil, Czechia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, South Korea, Sweden and the U.K. have also backed Taiwan’s engagement with Interpol either via passing resolutions or sending letters.
The ministry called on Interpol to expedite Taiwan’s full involvement in the body’s events, meetings and mechanisms. (POC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw