OPINION:
Interpol’s 84th general assembly is being hosted by Rwanda from Nov. 2, 2015 to Nov. 5, 2015. Police chiefs and other senior law-enforcement officials from around the world will gather at the event to discuss a range of policing and security issues, including foreign terrorist fighters and cybercrime. However, most members of Congress don’t realize that Taiwan is absent among the 190 member nations of Interpol. Taiwan currently relies on the United States and other countries to informally pass along Interpol information on criminal activity relevant to it. With the global rise of terrorism, disallowing Taiwan independent and easy access to Interpol is an unnecessary and dangerous risk. Taiwan should be permitted access to Interpol’s network so that it can both contribute to and benefit from what would be a more comprehensive fight against international criminals across the globe.
Congress needs to make a priority of identifying an urgent solution to support Taiwan’s bid to participate in Interpol.
KENT WANG
Advisory commissioner
Overseas Community Affairs Council of Republic of China (Taiwan) in the United States.
Potomac Falls, Va.
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