Tien, Chung-kwang
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
September 6, 2023
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Good evening!
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I am pleased to host tonight’s banquet. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to you all for supporting the 2023 International Forum on Police Cooperation. Over the past two days, fruitful discussions were held, and the forum was a resounding success.
To effectively combat transnational crime, no country can be left behind. Including Taiwan in INTERPOL would help facilitate real-time information sharing and create a stronger global security network. And your support is vital.
Taiwan is an important and exceptionally capable member of the international police community. With a strong interest in contributing even more to the world, Taiwan has been ramping up efforts to help build a seamless global security network. I am grateful that our diplomatic allies and like-minded partners continue to support Taiwan’s bid for meaningful participation in INTERPOL. Each year, our bid continues to gain momentum and garner ever broader international backing.
As a reliable and constructive partner, Taiwan will continue to seek out further opportunities to collaborate with police organizations worldwide. This includes establishing financial supervisory mechanisms to help prevent money laundering and illicit financial flows, as well as signing agreements on mutual legal assistance and joint criminal investigations.
In 2022, Taiwan and the United States engaged in information exchanges and mutual legal assistance to bring narcotics smugglers to justice. Over a ton of marijuana was found inside a container destined for Taiwan. Thanks to bilateral cooperation, the persons responsible were arrested and the drugs were destroyed. Also last year, Taiwan prosecutors and the Criminal Investigation Bureau discovered that an investment fraud ring had been established in Malaysia and that the criminal proceeds totaled roughly one million US dollars. Taiwan shared its information with Malaysian police, and 29 suspects were detained. By working together, we can realize a safer and more secure future for all.
In closing, please join me in a toast: to the health, happiness, and success of all our friends here tonight. Thank you, and bon appétit!