A plan to expand Taiwan’s international space and win it observer status in the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) was boosted on Thursday.
The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations unanimously passed a bill directing US President Barack Obama and the US Department of State to develop a strategy to assist in the goal.
“Taiwan’s inclusion in appropriate international organizations is important for Taiwan, important for the United States and important for the entire international community,” said Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the committee.
The bill has already been passed by the US House of Representatives and is expected to win unanimous Senate approval in the coming weeks.
Washington sources said that the bill was welcomed by the State Department, where diplomats are to work to gain support for Taiwan among other Interpol members.
“The State Department supports Taiwan as an observer at Interpol and I believe quick Senate action is warranted,” Cardin said.
House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Chairman Matt Salmon said earlier that the bill would help Taiwan to protect the safety of its citizens by combating criminal activity through access to Interpol’s global police communications systems.
Interpol has 190 member nations and is the world’s largest police organization.
“With the rise of terrorism throughout the globe, not allowing Taiwan independent and easy access to Interpol is an unnecessary and dangerous risk,” a recent opinion piece in the Washington newspaper The Hill said.
Taiwan was a full member of Interpol starting in 1964, but lost its place in 1984 when China became a member.
It is not known how China will react to the US effort to gain observer status for Taiwan in Interpol, but it is possible that Beijing might try to block it.
In other developments, the State Department on Thursday announced that special envoy for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people Randy Berry would visit Taipei next week for talks with government and other officials.
“He will discuss efforts to strengthen the global commitment to protecting and promoting the rights of LGBTI people,” the department said.
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