Washington, D.C. – Last week, Congressman Curtis led a group of over 70 bipartisan Members of Congress advocating for Taiwan’s inclusion in the International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as Interpol. Interpol is the international organization tasked with coordinating international police cooperation. In a letter sent to Secretary of State Blinken, Attorney General Garland, and the Director of Interpol in Washington, Congressman Curtis stated that there is clear Congressional intent that the U.S. support Taiwan’s inclusion in Interpol.
“Taiwan deserves a seat at the table to work with the U.S. and other democratic partners to root out corruption and abuse in Interpol,” said Rep. Curtis. “This Administration needs to fulfill the intent laws passed by Congress, counter China’s influence, and make a strong push for Taiwan’s participation in Interpol ahead of the General Assembly meeting later this month.”
With the continued lack of Taiwanese membership in Interpol there leaves a void in global crime-fighting efforts.
Additionally, authoritarian influence at Interpol has led to abuse of the Interpol “Red Notice” system by dictatorships like Russia, Belarus, and China.
Rep. Curtis is joined by the following colleagues: Connolly, Guest, Sires, McCaul, Castro, Diaz-Balart, Fitzpatrick, Kaptur, Burchett, Suozzi, Gallagher, Chris Smith, Schrader, Crenshaw, Beyer, Balderson, Lowenthal, Bill Johnson, Malinowski, Van Drew, Tiffany, Case, Miller-Meeks, Sherman, Hill, E.B. Johnson, Blake Moore, Stewart, V. Gonzalez, Palazzo, Foster, Wittman, Cohen, Babin, Luria, Davis, Hank Johnson, Mann, Kildee, Fallon, Hartzler, Chabot, Salazar, Crawford, Schweikert, Grothman, Steel, Estes, Letlow, Emmer, Buck, Stefanik, Owens, Reschenthaler, Bergman, Gohmert, Bucshon, Cline, McHenry, Garbarino, Young, Lesko, Stauber, McKinley, Bacon, Barr, Bilirakis, Young Kim, Meijer.
Click here to read the full letter.
Background:
- President Barack Obama signed into law a bill (P.L. 114-139) aimed at enabling Taiwan to gain observer status in the International Criminal Police Organization. The legislation directed the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan and instructed Interpol Washington to request observer status for Taiwan in Interpol, and urge Interpol member states to support observer status as a mechanism of participation for Taiwan.
- President Trump signed into law Congressman Curtis’s bill, the TAIPEI Act (P.L. 116-135) which directed the Secretary of State to instruct representatives of the United States Government in international organizations “to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to advocate for Taiwan’s membership or observer status” in international organizations.
- The Taiwan Assurance Act was included in the Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriations (P.L. 116-260), which states that “It is the policy of the United States to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations… the International Criminal Police Organization, and other international bodies…”
- These three bipartisan bills demonstrate clear Congressional intent to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in Interpol.
- Congressman Curtis sent a similar letter in 2019 before the TAIPEI Act and Taiwan Assurance Act were signed into law.
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