[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 102 (Thursday, July 11, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1242-E1243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL ANTINARCOTICS COOPERATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 10, 1996

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues a report issued following the Third Annual Narcotics Control 
Conference I and several of my colleagues attended in Taipei, Republic 
of China this past February. This report outlines the important and 
successful steps Taiwan has taken in their antinarcotics efforts, as 
well as their commitment to international antinarcotics cooperation. 
This conference was part of an on-going effort between the United 
States Congress and the Government of the Republic of China to improve 
bilateral and regional cooperation in the antinarcotics effort, and I 
would also like to thank Congressman Ed Towns who participated in this 
conference with our delegation. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would also like 
to personally thank Dr. Ying-jeou Ma, Taiwan's Minister of Justice, for 
his outstanding dedication and personal attention to our joint antidrug 
efforts, and I wish to commend him for a job well done in his role as 
Minister of Justice.

               Third Annual Narcotics Control Conference


                                summary

       Representatives Charles B. Rangel (D-NY). Edolphus Towns 
     (D-NY), former Rep. Lester L. Wolff and former Rep. Frank 
     Guarini participated in a 3 day conference in Taipei, 
     Republic of China on Taiwan entitled the Third Annual 
     Narcotics Control Conference, from February 14-17, 1996.
       Conference included the following host country officials: 
     Ying-jeou Ma, Minister of Justice; Dr. Cheng-Hao Liao, 
     Director General, MJIB; Chuan Cheng, Deputy Director General, 
     MJIB; Wei-Herng Hu, Director, Taipei City Psychiatric Center; 
     Shih-Ku Lin, Chief, Taipei City Psychiatric Center; Szu-Yin 
     Ho, Institute for International Relations; Mr. B. Lynn 
     Pascoe, Director, American Institute in Taiwan; Harvey A. 
     Somers, American Institute in Taiwan; and Eric Wu, Former 
     Member of Legislative Yuan.
       Consultative meetings were also held with the following 
     dignitaries: Lee Teng-hui, President; Frederick Chien, 
     Foreign Minister; Stephen S.F. Chen, Vice Foreign Minister; 
     and Chung-ling Chiang, Minister of National Defense.
       The primary purpose of this conference was to discuss 
     narcotics control issues facing the Republic of China on 
     Taiwan, U.S.-RoC counter-narcotics efforts, and discuss 
     cooperative solutions to the narcotics threat in Southeast 
     Asia. In response to the shift from narcotics interdiction to 
     ``in-country institution building'' by the current U.S. 
     administration, the conference focused on the Republic of 
     China's efforts in formulating a cohesive anti-drug strategy 
     which focuses on law enforcement, public education, and drug 
     treatment (including rehabilitation).


                               background

       Although according to the U.S. State Department's 
     International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, Taiwan is 
     not a significant cultivator or producer of illegal 
     narcotics, the illegal consumption of both heroin and 
     methamphetamines does present a serious social problem. In 
     recent years, Taiwan has faced a growing problem with heroin 
     trafficking, to which the government of the Republic of China 
     has responded with a major effort to stop the flow of 
     Southeast Asian heroin into Taiwan, the United States and 
     elsewhere. Taiwan continues to implement an aggressive 
     domestic counternarcotics program, which has led to a decline 
     in drug trafficking, demonstrated by lower seizure rates and 
     consumption in Taiwan. Taiwan's cooperation with U.S. anti-
     narcotics efforts (conducted under the auspices of the 
     American Institute in Taiwan) has substantially expanded over 
     the past year, and the appropriate offices representing the 
     US and the RoC are negotiating a new MOU on even broader 
     counternarcotics cooperation. New legislation is under 
     consideration to augment existing counternarcotics laws and 
     bring Taiwan into conformity with the 1988 UN Convention and 
     recommendations of the Financial and Chemical Action Task 
     Forces relating to money laundering and precursor chemical 
     controls.


                      Narcotics Control Conference

       The Narcotics Control Conference consisted of a series of 
     meetings and fact-finding visits to various ministries within 
     Taipei in order to receive information and exchange views on 
     Taiwan's counternarcotics efforts. These ministries included 
     the Ministry of Justice, Taipei City Psychiatric Center, 
     Investigation Bureau (MoJ), Ministry of National Defense, and 
     the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


               Investigation Bureau, Ministry of Justice

       On Wednesday, February 14, the delegation was received by 
     Director General Dr. Cheng-Hao Liao, and Deputy Director 
     General Cheng at the Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of 
     Justice. The delegation was given a thorough briefing on RoC 
     narcotics issues, with particular emphasis being placed on 
     efforts for increased international cooperation and 
     coordination with U.S. efforts. Discussions were held 
     concerning the RoC's efforts on halting the illegal 
     trafficking of narcotics to Taiwan, in addition to stopping 
     the illegal transit of narcotics through Taiwan's 
     international ports. A useful exchange of views followed this 
     briefing, covering various areas of mutual concern to both 
     the Republic of China and the United States in their anti-
     narcotics efforts.
       Following these discussions, the delegations was then 
     escorted by Dr. Liou to the Investigation Bureau's extensive 
     laboratory

[[Page E1243]]

     complex, in order to view the Republic of China's state of 
     the art processing and research facilities. This equipment, 
     purchased from the United States, is used to conduct 
     research, analysis, chemical testing, and identification 
     processing for use in criminal investigations and law 
     enforcement R&D. After an extensive tour of the laboratory 
     and discussions concerning similar approaches by the Republic 
     of China and the United States, the delegation was then 
     escorted to the narcotics depository and storage facilities 
     where confiscated drugs are kept under strict control. This 
     storage facility is held under tight security arrangements, 
     where narcotics are kept for use as evidence in prosecuting 
     drug-related crimes. After their use in trials, the narcotics 
     are then held for public destruction and anti-drug education 
     purposes. The delegation was very impressed with the 
     laboratory and storage facilities at the MJIB, and in the 
     progress made in developing enforcement capabilities.


                     Taipei City Psychiatric Center

       The delegation was next received by Dr. Wei-Herng Hu, 
     Director of the Taipei City Psychiatric Center (TCPC) to 
     learn more about the RoC's treatment and rehabilitation 
     efforts. TCPC is the major municipal psychiatric hospital in 
     Taipei city, and plays a key role in the treatment of heroin 
     addicts. The hour long discussion with Dr. Hu included issues 
     such as drug abuse prevention, treatment methods, and 
     educational efforts aimed at stopping narcotics before it 
     starts. The delegation also toured the center's patient 
     wards, where medical personnel briefed the delegation on 
     rehabilitation efforts for recovering addicts. TCPC has 
     conducted extensive research in the treatment of heroin 
     addiction, including: the use of tramadol in heroin 
     detoxification, the relationship between substance abuse and 
     criminal activity, pharmaconetics of heroin use in Chinese 
     drug abusers, group psychotherapy, drug abuse screening, 
     naltrexone maintenance trials on parole patients, and out-
     patient drug free program management.


                          Ministry of Justice

       Following the tour and discussions at the Investigation 
     Bureau and the TCPC, the delegation continued its conference 
     program with extensive discussions with the highest ranking 
     law enforcement official from the Republic of China, Dr. 
     Ying-jeou Ma, Minister of Justice. Dr. Ma, a Harvard educated 
     S.J.D., enjoys wide popularity among the citizens of Taiwan 
     and is widely respected among his colleagues for his efforts 
     in tackling narcotics and corruption issues during his 
     tenure. Dr. Ma outlined various developments within Taiwan 
     concerning the narcotics situation, including an account of 
     the largest narcotics seizure ever to take place in Taiwan's 
     history. ``On May 12, 1993, while conferring medals and 
     awards on meritorious officials taking part in the seizure, 
     Premier Lien Chan formally declared war on drugs. The RoC's 
     anti-drug campaign thus entered a brand new era.''
       As Dr. Ma reported, in the later half of the 1980's, a 
     double-digit economic growth, low inflation, and minimal 
     unemployment steadily pushed economic prosperity in Taiwan 
     towards new heights. The process of political democratization 
     further loosened the social discipline. Since 1990, 
     methamphetamine suddenly replaced soft drugs as the most 
     popular drug in Taiwan, and its abuse spread at an 
     astonishing rate. Meanwhile, heroin consumption also started 
     to jump during 1990-93. Since 1994, however, both the volume 
     of drugs seized and the offenders convicted have declined at 
     an increasing speed.


                      Taiwan's Anti-drug Strategy

       Dr. Ma related, in sum, that narcotic drugs from Southeast 
     Asia and mainland China had invaded Taiwan in an 
     unprecedented fashion. As late as seven years ago, drug abuse 
     was still unknown to the majority of people in Taiwan. It is 
     no wonder that the legal and medical communities were caught 
     off guard initially. But since the RoC Government declared 
     war on drugs in May, 1993, government agencies have beefed up 
     their efforts to tackle the problem. Dr. Ma compared some of 
     the measures being taken in various countries throughout the 
     region, having just returned from a fact-finding tour 
     throughout Southeast Asia and Golden Triangle area. Dr. Ma's 
     extensive knowledge and dedication was considered by the 
     delegation to be a great asset to the Republic of China in 
     their anti-narcotic efforts.
       A discussion was also held during this phase of the 
     conference with AIT Director Lynn Pascoe, who confirmed the 
     RoC's efforts in international cooperation.
       Dr. Ma, however, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the 
     fact that the Republic of China had been singled out as one 
     of the transit countries in the INCSR report over the last 
     few years, and stated his view that the transit allegation 
     was being applied without concrete evidence. In fact, Dr. Ma 
     stated, since 1990 there had only been one case where it was 
     proven that Taiwan had served as a transit point for 
     narcotics, and that given the huge volume of international 
     shipping that goes through Taiwan, these incidents would be a 
     great deal higher if Taiwan was being used as a transit 
     country. He stated that the Republic of China had given its 
     utmost effort in handling this issue, and stated his hope 
     that the delegation would note his concerns and relay this 
     information to the U.S. government. The delegation noted Dr. 
     Ma's concerns and stated that all views would be presented in 
     their report of this conference.
       Dr. Ma went on to outline the RoC's anti-drug strategy. The 
     overall strategy is simple: supply and demand reduction. And 
     implementation takes a three-prong approach: law enforcement, 
     public education and drug treatment (including 
     rehabilitation). In the RoC, law enforcement agencies include 
     the National Police Administration (NPA), the Ministry of 
     Justice Investigation Bureau, the Military Police Command and 
     the Customs Service. International cooperation is also 
     important. In the last three years, the MJIB has called three 
     international conferences to discuss drug enforcement 
     problems with participants coming from more than 24 
     countries. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the 
     U.S. Department of Justice has shown interest in setting up 
     an office in Taiwan to coordinate intelligence cooperation 
     with NPA and MJIB. The NPA and MJIB are also building up ties 
     with Southeast Asian countries near the Golden Triangle. 
     Finally, Dr. Ma pointed out that, while the RoC is not a 
     party to the United Nations Convention against illegal 
     narcotics trafficking due to the PRC's deliberate 
     obstruction, the RoC has taken steps to start regulating the 
     importation and use of precursors, chemicals, and solvents in 
     conformity with the U.N. convention.


     China External Trade Development Council and Other Activities

       On Thursday, February 15, the Congressional delegation 
     visited the China External Trade and Development Council and 
     the Taipei World Trade Center to discuss trade matters 
     between the United States and the Republic of China. The 
     delegation was briefed on the current balance of trade 
     between the two countries, in addition to various other trade 
     related matters.
       The delegation was next received by the Hon. Frederick F. 
     Chien, Minister of Foreign Affairs where current issues 
     facing the U.S.-RoC, RoC-PRC, and U.S.-PRC relationship were 
     discussed. The delegation also paid a visit to Vice Foreign 
     Minister Stephen S.F. Chen, who hosted a dinner in honor of 
     the delegation the following evening. Also on Thursday, 
     Representative Rangel and Representative Towns were joined by 
     Representative Bill Brewster (D-OK) and Representative 
     Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) in meeting with President Lee Teng-
     hui. Bi-lateral issues including trade, narcotics and recent 
     political developments were discussed, and President Lee 
     commented on the importance of keeping the pressure on 
     narcotics traffickers and on the efforts of the RoC 
     government in halting the transit of illegal narcotics 
     through Taiwan.
       As reported in the United States International Narcotics 
     Control Strategy Report, recent efforts by the RoC government 
     has led to ``a major effort by the Taiwan authorities to stop 
     the flow of heroin and reduce domestic usage. Taiwan 
     continues to implement an aggressive domestic 
     counternarcotics program which has led to a decline in drug 
     trafficking, demonstrated by lower seizure rates, and 
     consumption in Taiwan.'' The delegation pledged its continued 
     support for Taiwan's counternarcotics program, and a 
     continuation of the close bi-lateral relationship the two 
     countries have enjoyed.

                          ____________________