At the Asia Pacific Integrity Conference and Transparency International (TI) Regional Annual Meeting on Monday, Premier Lai Ching-te said Taiwan's rankings on TI's anti-corruption reports have improved over past years thanks to the efforts of all involved. This year, the administration will publish the first national report on the implementation of the U.N. Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in Taiwan, which will inform the nation of the government's work in promoting integrity and show the international community Taiwan's strong respect for human rights and the rule of law.
The global watchdog TI was founded in Berlin, Germany in 1993, and in the more than two decades since, it has used an assortment of indices to measure the state of integrity and address corrupt actions in governments around the globe. TI is the world's most well respected anti-corruption organization, and the reports and indices it publishes are widely trusted by the international community.
For its part, the government of Taiwan established the Agency Against Corruption under the Ministry of Justice in 2011, to bring corrupt officials to justice and raise awareness of the rule of law as a means of deterring corrupt behavior. Taiwan also incorporated the UNCAC into domestic law in 2016, and in recent years has tightened restrictions under the Money Laundering Control Act, the Company Act, and a proposed act governing foundations. In addition, local officials work in collaboration with Interpol to root out corruption, Premier Lai said.
The regional annual meeting is significant for Taiwan, he said, as it is the first organized by Transparency International Taiwan since the chapter was founded in 2002 to promote integrity, implement initiatives and fight corruption.