President Tsai Ing-wen said June 10 that Taiwan is strengthening global law enforcement and is willing and able to play an even bigger role in combating international crime.
Taiwan boasts strong law enforcement capabilities and occupies a strategic position in the heart of the Indo-Pacific, Tsai said. This uniquely qualifies the country to stand on the front line of global policing efforts, she added.
Tsai made the remarks during her opening address at the 22nd retraining conference of the FBI National Academy Associates Asia-Pacific Chapter in Taipei City.
Hosted by the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, the five-day event involves more than 170 high-ranking law enforcement officials from 20-plus countries such as FBI Associate Deputy Director Paul Abbate. Its theme Combating Organized Crime in the Asia-Pacific Region through Global Partnerships, Networks and Education is seen as particularly relevant in the face of rising authoritarian challenges to rules-based global order.
According to Tsai, respect for rule of law is a hallmark of free and democratic countries the world over. Multinational cooperation is the best way of defending this shared value, and Taiwan is working with like-minded partners in achieving this goal while promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, she said.
This commitment, Tsai said, is illustrated by the government’s policy of expanding Taiwan’s law enforcement network via memorandums of understanding and other pacts with allies like Nauru and Palau, as well as regional partners the Philippines and U.S.
At the same time, the country’s Indo-Pacific intelligence-sharing network is a rock-solid platform for collaborating with the U.S. in the war on global terrorism, Tsai said. It is sincerely hoped that discussions at the conference will lead to fresh thinking and new opportunities for cooperation in this area benefiting all stakeholders in the region, she added.
Echoing Tsai’s remarks, Raymond Greene, deputy director of the American Institute in Taiwan, said Taiwan is a close law enforcement partner of the U.S. and shares its visions and principles for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
This is reflected by the two related workshops staged last year in Taipei by Taiwan and the U.S. under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, Greene said. The conference further underscores the importance of Taiwan’s participation in the FBINAA network and helping ensure the safety and security of both sides, he added. (SFC-E)
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