[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             TAIWAN'S SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO FIGHT NARCOTICS

                                 ______


                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 4, 1995
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr Speaker, in August 1993, I had the privilege to attend 
a Regional Counter Narcotics Conference in Taipei, Republic of China. 
The conference was held in conjunction with the Republic of China's 
Ministry of Justice, and was attended personally by Justice Minister, 
Dr. Ma Ying-jeou. The decision to hold the conference in Taipei, 
together with Minister Ma's participation, was yet another indication 
from our friends on Taiwan of the seriousness of their antidrug 
efforts.
  I have just received a letter from Benjamin Lu, the Republic of 
China's Representative here in the United States, which details some of 
the further steps undertaken by the Republic of China since the 
conference. I would like to include it in the Congressional Record, 
because I feel it is important that such efforts do not go unnoticed 
here in the Congress. I strongly commend the Republic of China's 
antinarcotics efforts, and submit the following letter from 
Representative Lu:

                                               Taipei Economic and


                                      Cultural Representative,

                                   Washington, DC, March 14, 1995.
     Hon. Charles B. Rangel,
     U.S. House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Rangel: I am writing to update you 
     regarding an issue of great importance, international 
     narcotics control. This is also a matter of mutual concern to 
     the United States and my country, the Republic of China (ROC) 
     on Taiwan.
       According to reports released by the Ministry of Justice of 
     the ROC, drug related crimes such as drug abuse, trafficking 
     and money laundering were increasing in the Taiwan area in 
     recent years. However, the ROC government has taken effective 
     measures to put the problems under control, and the 
     achievements were duly noted by American authorities. As 
     commended by the ``International Narcotics Control Strategy 
     Report of 1995'' of the United States Department of State, 
     officially released on March 1, my government has launched 
     nation-wide anti-drug programs and passed harsher laws 
     against traffickers. In addition, although not a member of 
     the United nations, the ROC has introduced ``legislation in 
     conformity with the 1988 UN Convention in the areas of money 
     laundering, precursor chemical controls and `illegal drug' 
     schedules.''
       Both the record-breaking volume of drug seizures and an 
     impressive number of offenders indicted in Taiwan in recent 
     years proved that our efforts have been fruitful. The report 
     also noted that ``the Taiwan authorities have mounted a 
     concerted effort to attack the heroin trafficking problem and 
     seizures of heroin have increased rapidly in the past few 
     years. . . '' Nevertheless, a unilateral effort of any 
     country is not enough to win a complete victory against 
     drugs. My government, therefore, has thoroughly cooperated 
     with American as well as other international law enforcement 
     agencies to crackdown on all drug related crimes and will 
     continue to do so. The State report also indicated that, in 
     the last year, the ROC government not only ``continued to 
     cooperate well'' with the Drug Enforcement Agency but also 
     explored with U.S. authorities the possibility of signing a 
     bilateral counternarcotics agreement.
       The people and the government of the ROC are as committed 
     as you are to fighting drug problems. We hope you will take 
     note of our strong commitment and vigorous actions on this 
     important matter.
       With warmest regards,
           Sincerely,
                                                      Benjamin Lu,
                                                   Representative.
     

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