EDWARD LEE: International Security Network Is Incomplete without Taiwan

Edward Lee heads the International Criminal Affairs Division (ICAD) of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Lee began my police career as a police lieutenant in the immigration division at the Taichung Harbor Police Bureau in 1998. He joined the Criminal Investigation Bureau in 2004 and was an investigator with ICAD. Lee served as a police liaison officer to the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Netherlands from 2004 to 2022. In 2022, he became the chief of the foreign affairs division in the Yunlin County Police Department. In August of 2023, he was transferred back to CIB as deputy director of ICAD and promoted to director of ICAD in February 2024. He speaks with Bayo Akinloye in Taipei about the urgency and importance of having Taiwan as part of INTERPOL. He argues that the global security network is incomplete without Taiwan. Excerpts:

What do you consider a compelling reason INTERPOL should accept Taiwan’s request to return to the international police organisation?

According to Article 2 of the Constitution of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), one of the organization’s aims is to ensure and promote the widest possible mutual assistance among all criminal police authorities. In recent years, transnational crime has evolved, exacerbated by the rapid advancement of information and communications technology. Criminal activities are increasingly characterized by their cross-border, organised, and anonymous nature, with financial transactions occurring online. This situation poses significant risks to all countries and their populations.

Strengthening cross-border cooperation, enhancing law enforcement capabilities, and building capacity to uphold justice have become key priorities for the international community. Countries should learn from one another, cooperate, share intelligence, and work together to develop effective solutions. However, Taiwan currently faces challenges in obtaining the latest information on crime and sharing intelligence on suspects involved in major offences such as fraud and drug trafficking in a timely manner. Additionally, Taiwan is unable to provide other countries with crucial information regarding emerging criminal methods, its experiences in investigating related crimes, and details about forged passports. Taiwan’s exclusion hinders efforts to prevent and combat criminal activities at their source. Taiwan, strategically positioned and committed to strengthening international ties, is eager to share information and work with other countries to build a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous future for all.

How will you describe crime and law enforcement in Taiwan?

Taiwan operates its own policing and justice systems, as well as its financial and trading, aviation and maritime transport, and border control systems. With extensive experience in combating transnational crime, including telecommunications fraud, drug trafficking, cyberattacks, organised crime, and terrorism, Taiwan’s law enforcement authorities have demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting peace and assisting vulnerable populations. Its well-trained officers have positioned Taiwan as a significant partner within the international community, which has highly recognised Taiwan’s achievements in crime-fighting. Addressing transnational crime is a critical mission for Taiwan. Given the interconnected nature of global security, cooperation between Taiwan and INTERPOL would contribute to making the world a safer place.

Is Taiwan a safe place to be to visit?

I believe Taiwan is worth visiting, not only based on my personal living experiences but also according to several official surveys. Under Numbeo’s Safety Index, Taiwan came in third place with a score of 83.8, trailing only Qatar, which came in first with a score of 85.2, and second-place United Arab Emirates with a score of 84.9. Trailing Taiwan in fourth place was the Isle of Man, followed by Oman, Hong Kong, Armenia, Japan, Switzerland, and Bahrain, rounding out the top 10.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan’s 2024 Business Climate Survey revealed that a high degree of personal safety is the most attractive aspect of life and work in Taiwan for foreign business professionals. This factor has been recognised as the primary attraction for eight consecutive years. Former Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Sandra Oudkirk, stated, ‘Taiwan is the safest place I’ve ever lived.’ According to the Numbeo Safety Index, Taiwan ranks as the fourth-safest country in the world, with the fourth-lowest crime rate among 146 countries, surpassed only by Andorra, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Furthermore, in 2023, the Expat Insider annual survey published by InterNations ranked Taiwan as the fifth most livable country—second for quality of life, eighth for safety, and first for quality of healthcare.

Can you tell us about Taiwan’s previous relationship with INTERPOL?

The Republic of China (otherwise known as Taiwan) became a member of INTERPOL in 1961 under the name ‘National Central Bureau of the Republic of China’. However, when mainland China joined the membership in 1984, it put forward unreasonable conditions, including changing the name of the Republic of China to ‘Taiwan, China’, depriving us of the right to appoint a chief representative to attend meetings and vote, etc., Republic of China (Taiwan) has then decided to withdraw from the organisation. Although our country’s status and rights in INTERPOL have been replaced by mainland China, the conference also requested that the Executive Committee should consider maintaining cooperative relations with all appropriate agencies in the region. However, the PRC (China) has been stopping the suitable arrangement for Taiwan to have full access to liaise or work with INTERPOL.

When China applied for membership in INTERPOL in 1984, it imposed conditions that contradicted the principles outlined in the INTERPOL Constitution. China took over Taiwan’s membership rights and status and frequently invoked so-called ‘political issues’ to ensure that INTERPOL excluded Taiwan from meaningful participation in the organization. This exclusion has created significant obstacles to crime prevention and intelligence sharing, further complicating Taiwan’s efforts to combat transnational crime and contribute to global safety.

Is there a genuine hope to return to INTERPOL?

We urge all countries to support Taiwan’s participation as an observer at INTERPOL’s annual assembly. This participation would allow Taiwan’s law enforcement agencies to collaborate and engage with those of member states, attend training sessions, and share expertise. Taiwan is dedicated to enhancing security, minimizing harm to individuals and property, and working diligently with the international community to combat transnational crime.

In the meantime, how does your agency get to work on intelligence via INTERPOL’s notices?

Taiwan possesses robust law enforcement capabilities and cooperates with allied partners in criminal investigations. The ability to exchange information in real-time is essential for combating transnational crime. However, due to its exclusion from INTERPOL, Taiwan can only access vital intelligence indirectly (via NCB Tokyo or P to P). By the time this information is received, it is often outdated, creating a challenging situation that allows transnational crime to thrive and exacerbates the resulting harm.

Do you have direct communication with other law enforcement agencies like Europol and other national and continental security agencies?

Yes, we do. Our liaison officer assigned in the Netherlands would contact the Europol relative division directly when necessary. For the rest of the continental security agencies, we would direct our liaison officers to reach out to our law enforcement counterparts if necessary.

What’s your role in the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the National Police Agency?

My position is the director of the International Criminal Affairs Division (ICAD), and my primary responsibilities include police-to-police cooperation with foreign law enforcement counterparts, supervising transnational crimes investigation, criminal intelligence analysis as well as overseeing the operations of liaison officers worldwide.

What’s your final word?

Without Taiwan, the international security network is incomplete. With Taiwanese passports providing visa-free entry to more than 160 countries and areas around the world, there have been numerous cases of such passports being illegally traded by crime syndicates in other countries. Criminal elements in a number of countries have fraudulently used Taiwanese passports to engage in illegal activities, thereby threatening international security and seriously disrupting the global order. However, currently, Taiwan can neither obtain the latest information on crimes nor share intelligence on suspects of major crimes such as fraud and drug trafficking in a timely fashion. Likewise, Taiwan is unable to provide other countries with crucial information regarding emerging criminal methods, its experiences in investigating related crimes, and details on forged passports. Taiwan’s absence hampers efforts to prevent and stop criminal activities at their source.

Taiwan is willing and able to engage in joint law enforcement efforts.

In 2017, for example, after Australian national Lisa Lines allegedly convinced a lover to attack her ex-husband with an axe, seriously injuring and paralyzing him, she fled to Taiwan to hide and work. In September 2022, INTERPOL issued a red notice for Lines and a yellow notice for her young children. However, Taiwan was not notified immediately. When Australian police approached Taiwan with a unilateral request for assistance in their investigation in October 2023 again, Taiwanese police authorities were then able to conduct an investigation and went on to alert both Australia and Palau, leading to the arrest of Lines when she travelled to Palau with her children. She was then extradited to Australia to face trial, and her children were escorted back to Australia.In 2024, the INTERPOL Stop Internet Piracy (I-SOP) initiative sought to address copyright violations and piracy crimes, issuing a report entitled Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Awareness for Potential Digital Piracy Services. The report highlighted a Taiwanese police investigation into the illegal broadcasting of Olympic events through the Unblock Tech TV box (also known as the Anbo box). INTERPOL later asked Taiwan to share its related experiences and suggest potential measures for combating set-top box and other digital piracy services in the future so as to better protect intellectual property rights.