Skip to main content

Salmon-Sherman Bill Would Include Taiwan in INTERPOL

March 15, 2016

Bill Passes with Full Support of Congress

Sherman Oaks – The House and Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Taiwan INTERPOL bill (381-0), which will now be sent to the President. The legislation, which was originally introduced by Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Congressman Matt Salmon (R-AZ), would urge President Obama to take the necessary steps required to have Taiwan accepted into the International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL.

“This is not just a symbolic gesture, it’s a matter of international security,” said Congressman Sherman. “Taiwan functions as an independent country, and needs to function as an independent country inside international organizations. To date, Taiwan has been admitted to only one organization in the United Nations system, the World Health Organization, under the title observer status. We cannot allow Taiwan’s political status to prevent effective law enforcement against criminal gangs and international criminal organizations.”

“As things stand now, Taiwan gets some information from the International Police Organization, Interpol, but it is neither consistent, nor reliable. Taiwan doesn't have real-time access to Interpol's networks and systems. This hurts not only the people of Taiwan, but people all over the world that are potentially the victims of criminals who cannot be apprehended because we don't have efficient sharing of information and efficient multinational law enforcement.”

Taiwan was ejected from INTERPOL in 1984, when the People’s Republic of China applied for membership. In an effort to fill this gap, Congressman Salmon and Sherman introduced legislation, H.R. 1853, which directs the President to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan at INTERPOL. The bill passed the House by a vote of 392 to 0 on November 2nd, 2015. The Senate passed its version of the Salmon-Sherman bill, and on March 14th the House voted to send that legislation to the President.

-30-