According to last year’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report by Transparency International, Taiwan scored 68 out of 100, and was ranked 25th among 180 countries and territories. The nation’s score and rank are the same as last year.
However, in the Asia-Pacific region, from which 31 countries were evaluated, Taiwan was only behind New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.
The average score worldwide was 43, and the extent of corruption varies from region to region. Europe is perceived as a region of less corruption and higher integrity. The average score of the EU was 64, while Taiwan’s score was four points higher.
That Taiwan scored better than Europe should be applauded.
The CPI report highlighted that since 2017, the scores of 172 countries have either dropped or remained the same, and said that most countries have failed to deal with corruption more effectively.
Taiwan’s score has increased by five points. Compared with others, it is a big improvement. Among the countries ranked between first to 24th, 11 scored lower than in the previous report.
The major reason is that those governments failed to regulate the flow of dirty money across countries. Ironically, this is why the corrupt super-rich can take advantage of these countries, which are perceived as “clean,” and hide their illicit earnings there.
All transnational dirty money should be blocked and investigated seriously.
To fight against money laundering, regulations should be enacted, executive agencies should be established and a track-and-punish mechanism should be created.
For Taiwan, the most urgent task is to deal with local-level corruption. Taiwan’s score has remained the same in the past two CPI reports, and it is most likely to drop next year. One of the fundamental reasons could be this: In some local cities, counties, townships and villages, corruption has been highly visible and the issue has remained unaddressed.
The CPI report is calculated using 13 different data sources. After the data were gathered and calculations made, country experts, international entrepreneurs and academics assessed the statistics.
In their discussion and response, they considered each country’s CPI based on the tendering procedures of its central government, as well as how its local agencies undertake and complete all sorts of infrastructure projects. At the same time, their perception of a country and the extent of its corruption might have been affected by their presumptions or even stereotypes.
Fortunately, Taiwan is regarded as one of the less corrupt countries, but it is precisely because of this that it would be harder to score higher in the near future.
Therefore, to improve its image in the eyes of international experts and academics, the central government must concentrate on fighting local-level corruption, and demonstrate how Taiwan takes the initiative and devotes resources to anti-corruption projects. The anti-corruption campaign should be a bipartisan one, and it should uncover all illegal activities that involve government officials, legislators and related firms.
Once an instance of corruption is discovered, the government must take legal action and bring the case to court. Criminals must be punished, as only through penalties can the law be effectively enforced.
Taiwan must show that its government is committed to tackling corruption, and in doing so, a breakthrough will be made in how the international community perceives the country.
Tsao Yao-chun is a member of the Government Defense Integrity Index advisory committee.
Translated by Liu Yi-hung
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