Taiwan Interpol Endorsement and Inclusion Act

Bill: 118-hr-8452
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]
Introduced: 2024-05-17
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2024-05-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8452 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 17, 2024 Mr. Gooden of Texas (for himself, Mr. Sherman , Mr. Ogles , Mr. Tiffany , Mr. Biggs , Mr. Babin , Mr. Weber of Texas , and Mr. Sessions ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain membership status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Taiwan Interpol Endorsement and Inclusion Act . 2. Participation of Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Taiwan is an important contributor to peace and stability around the world. (2) The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 ( Public Law 96–8 ) states that it is the policy of the United States to preserve and promote extensive, close, and friendly commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan . (3) 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. (4) 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 between 2009-2016 under the name “Chinese Taipei”. Both prior to and in its capacity as an observer, Taiwan contributed significantly to the international community's collective efforts in pandemic control, monitoring, early warning, and other related matters. Since 2016, the World Health Assembly has rejected any bids for Taiwan’s inclusion as an observer. (5) 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. (6) 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 are vital to peacekeeping efforts. (7) 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. . (8) 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. (9) 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. (10) Nonmembership in Interpol 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. (11) 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. (12) Interpol’s constitution allows for observers at its meetings by police bodies which are not members of the Organization . (b) Statement of policy It should be the policy of the United States— (1) to advocate, as appropriate— (A) for Taiwan’s membership in all international organizations, including Interpol, and in which the United States is also a participant; and (B) for Taiwan to be granted full membership status in other appropriate international organizations; (2) to instruct, as appropriate, representatives of the United States Government in all organizations described in paragraph (1) to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to advocate for Taiwan's membership or observer status in such organizations; and (3) for the President or the President's designees to advocate, as appropriate, for Taiwan's membership or observer status in all organizations described in paragraph (1) as part of any relevant bilateral engagements between the United States and the People's Republic of China, including leader summits and the U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue. (c) Taiwan’s participation in Interpol The Secretary of State shall— (1) develop a strategy to— (A) obtain membership status for Taiwan in Interpol and at other related meetings, activities, and mechanisms thereafter; (B) encourage meaningful interaction, including information sharing, with U.S. National Central Bureau (Interpol Washington) and Taiwan on issues related to global crime fighting; (C) involve Taiwan in Interpol meetings, events, and related activities; and (D) in certain cases as appropriate and in alignment with United States interests, assist Taiwan in increasing its economic, security, and diplomatic engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world; and (2) instruct Interpol Washington to officially request membership status for Taiwan in Interpol and to actively urge Interpol member states to support such membership status and participation for Taiwan. (d) Report Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with Interpol Washington, shall transmit to Congress a report, in unclassified form, describing the United States strategy to endorse and obtain observer status or membership status for Taiwan in appropriate international organizations, including Interpol, and at other related meetings, activities, and mechanisms thereafter. The report shall include the following: (1) A description of the efforts the Secretary has made to encourage member states to promote Taiwan's bids to obtain observer status or membership status in appropriate international organizations, including Interpol. (2) A description of the actions the Secretary will take to endorse and obtain observer status or membership status for Taiwan in appropriate international organizations, including Interpol, and at other related meetings, activities, and mechanisms thereafter. 3. Report (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the U.S. National Central Bureau (Interpol Washington) shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report on any and all threats posed to Taiwan’s criminal intelligence as a result of their non-member and non-observer status in the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and, therefore, Taiwan’s lack of access to Interpol communications and data. (b) Form The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.