The reasons behind the Chinese ban on Taiwan's re-entry into Interpol are officially rooted in its territorial claims (Beijing considers it an “inalienable part of its territory”). There Fentanyl War however, it may provide a lens through which to view the situation in a different context.
Interpol, theInternational Criminal Police Organization (ICPO - International Criminal Police Organization), was founded in 1923 in Vienna to facilitate international cooperation in the fight against crime. The People's Republic of China became a member in 1984. This resulted in the automatic exclusion of Taiwan.
The forced exit has raised concerns about gaps in the fight against transnational crime and terrorism. Without access to Interpol's databases and resources, the island is at a disadvantage to effectively address these issues internationally.
With visa-free access to 145 countries and territories, Taiwanese passports are also a frequent target of international criminals. The exclusion effectively prevents Taiwan from accessing crucial information through the system I-24 / 7 Interpol and its database of stolen or lost travel documents, compromising its ability to effectively manage border security and combat crimes such as terrorism and human trafficking.
China's persistent refusal to allow Taiwan to participate in Interpol as an observer can be seen in a new light, if we consider the ongoing so-called "Fentanyl War" between China and the United States (read also “Fentanyl: the chemical euphoria of the Dragon"and "When death comes knocking, use opium").
To fully understand the implications of today, it is essential to remember the past. There Opium War of the XNUMXth century, in which the United Kingdom imposed the opium trade on China, left deep scars on the collective Chinese psyche, leading to what has been described as the "century of humiliation" (pictured is the signature of Treaty of Nanjing of the 1842).
China is using Fentanyl as a tool "historic revenge" against the West, especially the United States. The powerful synthetic opioid causes many of the 150 deaths daily (on average) in the USA.
China is one of the largest producers of Fentanyl and its precursors. A significant portion of these narcotics make their way illegally negli United States.
Can a "rebel" statelet really worry Beijing?
Beyond the fact that the country is the 21sta economy in the world and the 17th global exporter, Taiwan boasts the lowest crime rate among Asian countries. The ban imposed by Beijing therefore takes on a further meaning: by hindering Taiwan's entry into Interpol, China ensures not to allow the international organization to make use of a formidable actor who, with access to (and sharing of ) key information, could thwart or help resolutely combat the deadly trafficking of Fentanyl.
Photo: OpenAI/web
