[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 162 (Monday, November 2, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H7363-H7367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE
ORGANIZATION
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 1853) to direct the President to develop a strategy to
obtain observer status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police
Organization, and for other purposes.
[[Page H7364]]
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1853
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL
CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Safety, security and peace is important to every
citizen of the world, and shared information ensuring wide
assistance among police authorities of nations for
expeditious dissemination of information regarding criminal
activities greatly assists in these efforts.
(2) Direct and unobstructed participation in the
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is
beneficial for all nations and their police authorities.
Internationally shared information with authorized police
authorities is vital to peacekeeping efforts.
(3) With a history dating back to 1914, the role of
INTERPOL is defined in its constitution: ``To ensure and
promote the widest possible mutual assistance between all
criminal police authorities within the limits of the laws
existing in the different countries and in the spirit of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.''.
(4) Ongoing international threats, including international
networks of terrorism, show the ongoing necessity to be ever
inclusive of nations willing to work together to combat
criminal activity. The ability of police authorities to
coordinate, preempt, and act swiftly and in unison is an
essential element of crisis prevention and response.
(5) Taiwan maintained full membership in INTERPOL starting
in 1964 through its National Police Administration but was
ejected in 1984 when the People's Republic of China (PRC)
applied for membership.
(6) Nonmembership prevents Taiwan from gaining access to
INTERPOL's I-24/7 global police communications system, which
provides real-time information on criminals and global
criminal activities. Taiwan is relegated to second-hand
information from friendly nations, including the United
States.
(7) Taiwan is unable to swiftly share information on
criminals and suspicious activity with the international
community, leaving a huge void in the global crime-fighting
efforts and leaving the entire world at risk.
(8) The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review,
declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in
appropriate international organizations and has consistently
reiterated that support.
(9) Following the enactment of Public Law 108-235, a law
authorizing the Secretary of State to initiate and implement
a plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at
the annual summit of the World Health Assembly and subsequent
advocacy by the United States, Taiwan was granted observer
status to the World Health Assembly for six consecutive years
since 2009. Both prior to and in its capacity as an observer,
Taiwan has contributed significantly to the international
community's collective efforts in pandemic control,
monitoring, early warning, and other related matters.
(10) INTERPOL's constitution allows for observers at its
meetings by ``police bodies which are not members of the
Organization''.
(b) Taiwan's Participation in INTERPOL.--The President
shall--
(1) develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan
in INTERPOL and at other related meetings, activities, and
mechanisms thereafter; and
(2) instruct INTERPOL Washington to officially request
observer status for Taiwan in INTERPOL and to actively urge
INTERPOL member states to support such observer status and
participation for Taiwan.
(c) Report Concerning Observer Status for Taiwan in
INTERPOL.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to
Congress a report, in unclassified form, describing the
United States strategy to endorse and obtain observer status
for Taiwan in INTERPOL and at other related meetings,
activities, and mechanisms thereafter. The report shall
include the following:
(1) A description of the efforts the President has made to
encourage INTERPOL member states to promote Taiwan's bid to
obtain observer status in INTERPOL.
(2) A description of the actions the President will take to
endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan in INTERPOL and
at other related meetings, activities, and mechanisms
thereafter.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.
General Leave
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material on this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank the chairman of the Asia and the
Pacific Subcommittee, Congressman Matt Salmon, for introducing this
important resolution.
Taiwan is indeed a strong ally of the United States, one which shares
our interests and values, including an enduring commitment to democracy
and the freedom of expression.
Taiwan is a beacon of freedom in the Pacific, serving as an
inspiration for the world's oppressed, and it serves as a model for
future democratic transitions. Unfortunately, however, Taiwan is under
increasing pressure from an aggressive China that is attempting to
assert its dominance in the Pacific and to isolate Taiwan on the
international stage. One organization that China has prevented Taiwan
from joining is INTERPOL, the International Criminal Police
Organization.
INTERPOL was created, Mr. Speaker, to promote international
cooperation between criminal police authorities; but because of undue
Chinese pressure, Taiwan is no longer a member of INTERPOL. Taiwan is
forced to receive less effective, secondhand information about
international criminals and their illicit activities. Likewise, Taiwan
cannot share the law enforcement information that it gathers in order
to benefit INTERPOL.
In China's efforts to exclude Taiwan and in the efforts of some
nations to accommodate China, they have ended up hurting Taiwan and the
entire international community in the process.
So we have this bill before us, Mr. Speaker. This bill by Congressman
Salmon directs the President to request observer status for Taiwan at
INTERPOL, to urge other INTERPOL members to support it, and for the
President to develop a strategy to ensure the participation of Taiwan.
I am pleased to support this legislation. I believe that the United
States should be helping Taiwan's meaningful participation in all
international organizations and entities in which it has expressed an
interest in participating.
Taiwan's exclusion from organizations like INTERPOL is dangerous. It
is a dangerous practice. It hurts the international community just as
much as it hurts the people of Taiwan.
We must not allow U.N. politics or China's efforts to isolate Taiwan
to exclude it from international organizations. It is, therefore,
crucial that the United States provide the kind of military assistance,
economic assistance, and political assistance that will allow Taiwan to
resist any type of Chinese coercion.
The Taiwan Relations Act, together with the Six Assurances are the
cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan relations, and we must always keep it as our
guiding beacon. I know that this is a sentiment that is greatly shared
by the members of our Foreign Affairs Committee and by the chairman of
our committee, Mr. Royce of California, because the friendship between
the people of the United States and Taiwan has cemented into one of the
most cherished partnerships. I look forward to the United States
Government demonstrating its continued commitment to the people of
Taiwan with the passage of Mr. Salmon's bill.
I want to thank, again, Chairman Salmon for introducing this
important resolution. I am pleased to offer my support, and I urge my
colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume,
and I rise in support of this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I want to also thank Mr. Salmon from Arizona, who chairs
our Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, for authoring
this bill. I am proud to be a cosponsor.
The International Criminal Police Organization, what we call
INTERPOL, helps law enforcement agencies around the world collaborate
with one another. Thanks to INTERPOL, a task force in New York can
share information with a police agency in Hamburg or flag a terrorist
suspect for authorities in Tokyo.
Sensitive information about criminals or missing persons is available
at the push of a button for INTERPOL's
[[Page H7365]]
members. For decades, it has been a vital tool for global security.
Until 1984, Taiwan was a member of INTERPOL; but since the People's
Republic of China applied for membership, Taiwan has been left out.
This is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.
Taiwan has the 16th or 17th largest economy in the world. And anyone
who has ever been to Taiwan, as I have and as my colleague has, will
just be amazed at the democracy they have built themselves on that tiny
island. The fact is that they look to the United States for protecting
them and helping them. Because just like we share the same values with
Israel, we share the same values with Taiwan, and that is why we work
with them.
Taiwan has been left out, and this gap in INTERPOL's membership
creates a public safety risk for the people of Taiwan and also for the
rest of the world. So nobody is saying that China should not be a
member, but China should not have the right to exclude Taiwan.
This legislation would close that gap. It would instruct the
administration to push for Taiwan to be granted observer status in
INTERPOL. Observer status, that is what we are asking for.
There are countries around the world that function as countries, that
have everything that all other countries have, and yet, because of
politics, they are excluded from these international organizations.
Taiwan is one such country. Kosovo is another type of country.
We have to stop this. People that live in these countries need to not
bear the brunt of politics, but really need the protections that
citizens of other countries have. By our not giving them the
protections, we leave ourselves a bit unprotected as well.
So this legislation would instruct the administration to push for
Taiwan to be granted observer status in INTERPOL. As an observer,
Taiwan would have access to the information that law enforcement
agencies already have. It would also allow Taiwan to contribute
information to INTERPOL, information that could be used to stop crime
or thwart terrorist activity, arrest human traffickers, or sideline
other bad actors.
Good precedent exists for giving Taiwan this status. Taiwan is an
observer in the World Health Assembly, where it has played a vital role
in contributing to public health and fighting pandemic disease.
In fact, Taiwan has repeatedly shown itself to be a constructive,
positive force in the global community. Countries around the world
stand to benefit from Taiwan's inclusion in international organizations
like INTERPOL. So not only does Taiwan benefit, but the rest of the
world benefits. It is a no-brainer. It is a win-win situation for
everybody.
I support this legislation wholeheartedly. I urge my colleagues to do
the same.
I thank my colleague from Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and the
chairman from California, Ed Royce. Again, we are all in this together.
This is great bipartisan legislation of the Foreign Affairs
Committee. It is important for Taiwan and important for the United
States.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, before I yield to Mr. Salmon, I ask
unanimous consent that the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the
esteemed chairman of our committee, who is here with us now, manage the
rest of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Salmon). He is the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and the author of this important
measure.
Mr. SALMON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Ed Royce for bringing this
important measure to the floor today and for being a constant champion
of the people of Taiwan.
I was able to go on a trip with the chairman to Taiwan, and I think
that he is as close to royalty in Taiwan as anybody that I have ever
met. They love Ed Royce. In fact, the guy that used to be called ``Mr.
Taiwan'' was the former Senator from Arizona, Barry Goldwater, but I
think Ed Royce has maybe taken that title away.
I am just honored to be able to be here supporting this bill that he
has allowed to come to the floor. I have been a long-time supporter of
Taiwan, as have Members throughout this body on both sides of the
aisle.
Let me just segue for a minute.
A lot of people out there get really, really frustrated by the
partisan nature of what they see happening here in the Nation's
Capital. A lot of people are frustrated: Why can't both sides just
agree? I mean, after all, aren't we all Americans?
The interesting thing is I wish more Americans could come and see our
committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, in action because it is the
epitome of bipartisanship. Besides the fact that Chairman Ed Royce
leads the committee and demands that we exhibit bipartisanship, Ranking
Member Eliot Engel is one of the best men I have ever met in my life.
And I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
Whether it is dealing with terrorism in the Middle East or fairness
across the globe like this issue with Taiwan and common sense, he is
always on the right side. He leads his delegation, his folks on that
side of the aisle in something that we have long believed, but
sometimes it kind of gets lost in the cacophony of arguments here on
Capitol Hill on other things, but that is that partisanship ends at the
water's edge.
My hat is off to you, Mr. Engel, because you have always exhibited
that, and I appreciate the way that you have led this body in that way.
Taiwan is a wonderful, thriving democracy. In fact, I had an
opportunity as a young man to live there for 2 years, from 1977 to
1979, while serving a mission for my church. While I was there in 1978,
the Nixon administration normalized relations with China, recognizing
the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole, legal
government of China and declaring it would withdraw diplomatic
recognition from Taiwan. The U.S. Government has since articulated a
one-China policy, which was a dark turn for U.S.-Taiwan relations.
Since then, we have seen a Taiwan that is marginalized in the
international community.
Taiwan's ambiguous sovereignty status has contributed to its
exclusion from many, many international organizations, despite Taiwan's
obvious willingness to play a larger role in international affairs and
international security, as it should. From humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief to law enforcement and global health, so often it has
been denied the right to share its knowledge and its expertise in the
international fora.
This bill, H.R. 1853, would improve Taiwan's capability to contribute
and benefit from the international community in the interest of
international security. H.R. 1853 would direct the President to develop
a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the International
Criminal Police Organization, or INTERPOL. It would also require the
President to report to Congress on efforts to encourage Taiwan's
inclusion in INTERPOL.
Since the early 20th century, INTERPOL has facilitated mutual
assistance between criminal police authorities worldwide through the
sharing of information, such as access to comprehensive lists of
suspicious persons and criminals.
As we all know and, I think, as every American knows, terrorism and
other nontraditional security challenges no longer end at our borders
or anybody's borders. These threats are global by nature.
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In order to secure domestic and international security, the sharing
of information across borders is vital. Taiwan's exclusion from
INTERPOL hampers efforts to prevent and respond to threats.
To ensure that potential terrorists are barred from entering Taiwan,
it is essential that Taiwan have direct access to INTERPOL and its I-
24/7 system, which provides real-time information on criminals and
global criminal activities.
Without this access, Taiwan is forced to cobble together its own list
based on incomplete and untimely information obtained from a small
number of friendly countries to Taiwan and Taiwan's own domestic
intelligence.
[[Page H7366]]
Equally important, Taiwan is unable to share the information that it
gathers on criminals and suspicious persons with INTERPOL directly. Mr.
Engel called this policy silly. I think that that is very, very
appropriate and accurate. This puts everybody at risk, when we have a
policy that plays politics instead of common sense.
Cooperation between Taiwan and INTERPOL could be markedly enhanced if
Taiwan is able to become an observer. H.R. 1853, with 114 bipartisan
cosponsors, continues to carry the torch of congressional support for
Taiwan's membership and inclusion in the international community.
Taiwan is a vibrant, democratic society, with much to contribute to
the international community. The United States must do more to fulfill
our obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act, which provides that the
U.S. treat Taiwan the same as foreign countries, nations, states,
government, or similar entities.
This is a vote for U.S. support of Taiwan's inclusion in
international affairs. This is a vote for international security. I
urge my colleagues to vote to support Taiwan's participation in
international policing efforts by supporting this legislation, H.R.
1853.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
We are all saying the same thing, and I think it really shows how
important this legislation is. I want to mention the gentleman from
Arizona, as I mentioned before. He was very kind about some of the
things he said about me.
You need to go on a trip to China or Taiwan with the gentleman from
Arizona because he is very modest, but he speaks fluent Mandarin. He
has great diplomatic skills, and the people there really appreciate
what he has done. I appreciate him being the author of this important
piece of legislation.
It is true, when we talk about bipartisanship in foreign affairs, it
is probably more important than in any other place. I have gone on a
number of trips and we have had delegations of Republicans and
Democrats together, and always, as Americans, the differences that we
might have are very, very tiny.
When you travel together and you go to another country, we realize
how important it is that, as Americans, we stand united and that other
countries respect our country for what our country has done and is
doing. That is really important.
I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona, my friend. He has been a
vital force for this legislation, H.R. 1853, but he has also been a
vital force on so many other issues on the Committee on Foreign Affairs
and global issues that are really just so important.
When we talk about global issues and talk about policy that we need
to do, there really are no Democrats and no Republicans. We are all
Americans. We want to make sure that other countries respect what we
try to do.
We believe in what this country stands for, and we want to have good
relations with countries around the world. I think it is so important
when Members travel there and meet with dignitaries and meet with
leaders of the country and meet with other parliamentarians that people
understand what the United States of America is all about.
I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona for his leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, as a strong original
cosponsor. I want to thank Mr. Engel, and I want to thank Mr. Salmon
and Mr. Brad Sherman for this legislation.
Taiwan is a nation of 23 million people. It is a booming democracy,
with a free and open media. It is a loyal friend. It is a loyal partner
to the United States.
Taiwan is engaged in important missions worldwide. We see the results
of a lot of that engagement. Ebola is one most recently on our mind.
When Ebola hit West Africa, it was Taiwan that donated 100,000 sets of
protective equipment that were used to stop the spread of Ebola. It was
Taiwan that gave so much in financial resources to help the sickest in
Liberia.
Taiwan today is assisting those who have been forced out of their
homes by terrorists, whether it is in Syria or Iraq; yet, despite its
active and constructive role internationally, Taiwan is excluded from
many international organizations because of its political status.
While Taiwan voluntarily adheres to the rules and the regulations of
international organizations like the U.N., it is barred from
participating. It is barred from being included in U.N. treaties
against transnational organized crime and nuclear proliferation. This
is not good for Taiwan, and it is not good for us.
To better protect its citizens and all the people around the world
who travel there, Taiwan is seeking observer status in the
International Criminal Police Organization, which many know as
INTERPOL.
This organization enables police from 190 member countries to work
together to make the world a safer place through information sharing,
capacity building, and response coordination between police
departments. That is 190 countries, but Taiwan is not included.
The legislation before us today will help to secure observer status
for Taiwan at INTERPOL. The measure requires the President of the
United States to develop and execute a strategy to ensure that Taiwan
participates in INTERPOL's next General Assembly meeting, which is
coming up in Indonesia. This will bring better international law
enforcement cooperation with one of our most important partners:
Taiwan.
Mr. Speaker, by way of history, Taiwan had full membership in
INTERPOL starting back in 1964, but Taiwan was ejected from the law
enforcement group in 1984, when the People's Republic of China applied
for membership.
Since then, Taiwan has relied on delayed secondhand information that
they get from the United States about international criminals and
global criminal activities, and that, frankly, makes Taiwan more
vulnerable to security threats.
Likewise, Taiwan cannot share the law enforcement information it
gathers to the benefit, frankly, of INTERPOL and the rest of the
community and all of the members of INTERPOL, all the police
organizations that try to rely on that. And, of course, we are part of
that. We could utilize that benefit.
Mr. Speaker, the fact that Taiwan must rely on a convoluted process,
with an added layer of bureaucracy, to access this critical information
makes no sense. Taiwan regularly hosts the type of megaevents which
often, unfortunately, attract terrorist activity, or they could.
For example, in 2009 Taiwan hosted the World Games and had to rely
solely on the United States to vet athletes and media lists, and with
the U.S.' help, several suspicious persons were, in fact, identified.
They were denied entry into Taiwan.
In 2017 Taiwan will host the Summer Universiade, a student sporting
event in which 900 athletes from 170 countries are expected to attend.
This event is second only to the Olympics in the number of participants
and countries that are represented.
There must be a more streamlined way for Taiwan to access information
from INTERPOL. As the number of visitors from Taiwan to the United
States has grown exponentially, there is an urgent need to ensure that
Taiwan's police forces have real-time access to information on criminal
activities and on threats.
Taiwan entered into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in 2012. Since then,
the number of Taiwanese visitors to the United States has increased by
nearly 42 percent. From my home State of California, the increase in
visitors from Taiwan has been a boon to the economy.
I am proud to have worked on Taiwan's entry into the Visa Waiver
Program because I know that, as a result of this agreement, Taiwanese
Americans in southern California have a much easier time staying
connected to their families, and business travelers are having an
easier time, too.
That is why I am also supporting Taiwan's participation in Customs
and Border Protection's Global Entry program, which will make two-way
travel even easier.
Mr. Speaker, strengthening Taiwan's law enforcement capabilities
benefits American citizens as much as it does the Taiwanese. Every year
tens of thousands of Americans travel to Taiwan, and this bill will
certainly help
[[Page H7367]]
Taiwan's police forces protect American citizens traveling in Taiwan.
INTERPOL's constitution allows for observers at its meetings by
police bodies which are not members of the organization. And so I am
confident Taiwan will be able to be an observer.
H.R. 1853 will support Taiwan's efforts to gain observer status with
INTERPOL. It is going to improve everybody's security. Mr. Speaker, we
must constantly be pressing to ensure that security across the globe is
protected.
Taiwan's unique political status has thus far hindered its inclusion
in INTERPOL and is a vulnerable loophole for criminals and, frankly,
for terrorists to target. With this piece of legislation, we are
sending a clear message that safety is a priority.
I want to again commend Representative Matt Salmon of Arizona,
chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and, of course,
Mr. Engel and Mr. Sherman for authoring and introducing this important
measure. I appreciated working with them on it.
I will just say this of Mr. Salmon as well. He has a longstanding
interest in Taiwan. His leadership on this measure is very much
appreciated by all of us.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close on my side. I yield
myself such time as I may consume.
As I have said, we need to use every tool available to combat
terrorism and disrupt criminal networks around the world. It only makes
sense to have more partners at the table in that effort.
So bringing Taiwan back into INTERPOL as an observer just makes
common sense. The more participants in INTERPOL, the more good the
organization can do. We should do all we can to bring willing
contributors off the sidelines.
Again, Taiwan was a member and was thrown out when everyone
recognized People's Republic of China. There is room for both. There
should be both.
I again want to commend my friend, Mr. Salmon, who is largely
responsible for this, and our chairman, Mr. Royce, who I think has more
people from Taiwan in his district than virtually any other district in
the country. So he knows quite a bit about Taiwan and quite a bit about
what should be done.
It is something that we are all saying the same thing. It makes sense
for Taiwan. It makes sense for the United States. It makes sense for
INTERPOL. I encourage my colleagues to support this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1853.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________