Chip in with Taiwan for a Safer World

As the 93rd session of the INTERPOL General Assembly convenes from 24 to 27 November 2025 in Marrakech, Morocco, member states will address several pressing global challenges, including identifying and disrupting transnational organized crime, dismantling transnational scam centres, expanding INTERPOL’s global policing capabilities, promoting women’s participation in policing, reviewing the Silver Notice pilot project, and encouraging ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime.

Despite Taiwan’s proven capabilities, it remains excluded from accessing INTERPOL’s databases, participating in its meetings, and sharing information with international partners in real time. This exclusion not only weakens Taiwan’s security, but also creates blind spots that undermine global efforts to combat transnational crime.

Blocking Taiwan’s meaningful participation contradicts foundational principles of INTERPOL.

INTERPOL’s Constitution clearly articulates its mission.

Article 2 mandates the Organization:

(1) ensures and promotes the widest possible mutual assistance between all criminal police authorities within the limits of laws existing in the different countries and in the spirit of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”;

(2) establishes and develops all institutions likely to contribute effectively to the prevention and suppression of ordinary law crimes.

Moreover, Article 3 stipulates that it is strictly forbidden for the Organization to undertake any intervention of activities of political, military, religious, or racial character.

Because of political reasons, Taiwan is continued excluded from participating in the INTERPOL. This sort of obstruction has countered to its principles and undermines the Organization’s moral foundation 

Taiwan’s Proven Capabilities in Combating Crime

Taiwan consistently ranks among the safest places in the world. According to the Numbeo global database, Taiwan is ranked 4th among 147 countries in overall safety. The crime rate stands at just over 1,200 reported incidents per 100,000 people, and the homicide rate of 2.3 per 100,000 remains far below global averages. Taiwan’s exemplary public safety performance serves as a model for many nations and reinforces its reputation as a trusted and responsible security partner.

In 2024, Taiwan law enforcement successfully dismantled a major online forum known as the Creative Private Room, which facilitated large-scale distribution of child sexual exploitation materials. With over 5,000 members and operations reliant on anonymous cryptocurrency-based transactions, this criminal network leveraged encrypted technologies to evade detection. The mastermind behind the operation was based in China, underscoring the deeply transnational nature of the crime.

This case required advanced digital forensics, cyber investigations, cryptocurrency tracking, and seamless cross-border coordination—demonstrating the forefront of global law enforcement capacities. Taiwan’s successful operation highlighted not only its professional expertise and technological acumen, but also its unwavering dedication to protecting vulnerable populations and combating sophisticated cybercrimes.

At a time when global criminal networks are rapidly expanding, excluding Taiwan from real-time intelligence sharing is a loss the international community cannot afford.

Call for Taiwan’s Participation in INTERPOL

International voices have increasingly recognized that Taiwan’s exclusion hinders global policing efforts. On September 5, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute published an article by Dr. John Coyne titled “Taiwan’s INTERPOL Exclusion Undermines Policing Efforts.” Dr. Coyne argued that Taiwan is a critical and capable partner in the Indo-Pacific and that blocking its access delays intelligence sharing and the apprehension of criminals, thereby directly reducing the effectiveness of global joint enforcement cooperation.

Today’s transnational crimes—from cyber fraud and human trafficking to money laundering and child exploitation—transcend borders. Addressing these complex threats requires comprehensive and barrier-free cooperation among law enforcement agencies worldwide.

Therefore, I urge the Baltic countries to support Taiwan’s bid to participate as an observer in the INTERPOL General Assembly and to facilitate its meaningful engagement in INTERPOL’s mechanisms, activities, and information-sharing systems. Taiwan’s participation would benefit its 23 million people and, moreover, would strengthen the safety network of the entire international community.

Taiwan stands ready to deepen its cooperation with partners around the globe and remains fully committed to contributing its expertise, resources, and technological capabilities to the shared fight against transnational crime.(E)