No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8452 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8452
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Taiwan Interpol Endorsement and
Inclusion Act''.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line