Denver: Taiwan’s absence from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) continues to create obstacles to international crime-fighting, Taiwanese officials said during an international police chiefs conference in the United States. The Taiwanese delegation to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference, held from October 18-21 in Denver, Colorado, was led by National Police Agency (NPA) Deputy Director-General Liao Hsun-cheng.

According to Focus Taiwan, during a presentation at the event, Lin Miao-ling, director of the NPA’s International Affairs Division, emphasized that excluding Taiwan from international cooperation “creates gaps and vulnerabilities in the global crime-fighting network.” The IACP conference was attended by more than 16,000 public safety professionals. Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) International Criminal Affairs Division chief, Lee Kun-da, presented practical case studies from Taiwan’s investigations into transnational crime.

Lee stated that for decades, Taiwan has warned the international community about the spread of telecom fraud operations in Southeast Asia. He noted that “serious damage could have been avoided if early warnings were received and prevention measures were taken.” Taiwan hopes to share crime-related intelligence “in a timely manner” with international law enforcement counterparts but is currently limited because it is “kept outside” Interpol, and can only share information with “countries that maintain good interaction” with Taiwan.

Lee added that in August, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Institute in Taiwan to strengthen intelligence-sharing with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. “This cooperation helps demonstrate Taiwan’s influence,” Lee said, highlighting its support for efforts to join Interpol.

Liao told CNA that “the only common enemy of law enforcement agencies around the world is crime,” and Taiwan should not be “omitted” from Interpol, which expelled Taiwan in 1984 when China joined the organization. He mentioned that Taiwan has maintained “a proactive attitude for many years” toward fraud crime prevention, and that other law enforcement officials “showed strong interest” in Taiwan’s approach.

Taiwan’s judiciary “is very willing to participate in international cooperation and exchanges,” with evolving crime trends making intelligence-sharing “even more critical,” Liao added. He also noted that the IACP event highlighted new technologies such as drones and video surveillance systems with identification functions that “can serve as references for future law enforcement in Taiwan.”