Jun 18, 2013

Taiwan: Close Cooperation With U.S. On Mutual Legal Assistance


The Taiwanese Minister of Justice, Tseng Yung-fu, has stated that Taiwan and the United States have cooperated closely on legal issues since signing a mutual legal assistance agreement in 2002. 

Below is an article published by Focus Taiwan News Channel:

Justice Minister Tseng Yung-fu said in the United States on Monday [17 June 2013] that Taiwan and the United States have cooperated closely on legal issues since signing a mutual legal assistance agreement in 2002.

From the time the deal was signed to the end of April 2013, the two sides have requested assistance in 160 cases and received the required help in 146 of them, Tseng said.

Taiwan has asked the United States for legal assistance in 69 cases, and 60 of the requests have been fulfilled, while the U.S. has asked for assistance in 91 cases, getting the necessary help in 86 of them, Tseng said.

Speaking at a meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General in Boston, Tseng noted that Taiwan has also requested legal assistance from other countries with which it has substantive relations but not formal diplomatic ties.

There were 196 such cases from 2004 to the end of April, the minister said.

On fighting corruption, Tseng said Taiwan has actively promoted the United Nations Convention against Corruption at home, setting up the Agency Against Corruption in 2011 and upholding the spirit of the convention.

It has also improved administrative transparency, enhanced accountability and strengthened ethics by combining public and private sector resources, promoted the establishment of corporate integrity, and created a sophisticated anti-corruption network, he said.

Taiwan has also remained vigilant against terrorism, Tseng said, because it understands that terrorism remains a serious threat to global peace and security.

Tseng lauded the U.S. anti-terrorism strategy in which anti-terrorism is promoted through the practical application of legal practice, technology, sharing of information and international collaboration.

He also spoke of Taiwan's active efforts to fight human trafficking, combat transnational drug crimes and seize the gains made by criminals.

Tseng, who left Taiwan on June 15, will also visit Guatemala, one of Taiwan's diplomat allies in the Central America, before returning to Taiwan on June 27.