Headline

President Tsai issued a statement regarding the situation in Hong Kong President Tsai Ing-wen issued a statement regarding the situation in Hong Kong on June 13 at the Presi-dential Office. She explained that the democratic protests in Hong Kong made it clear to Taiwanese that the "one country, two systems" model is not viable. She emphasized that as long as she is president, anyone who tries to undermine Taiwan's sover-eignty and democracy will fail. Tsai said the current democratic protests in Hong Kong have attracted a lot of attention around the world. Seeing Hong Kong police using tear gas and rubber bullets against the public, she said, was shocking and intolerable. The people of Hong Kong have the right to pursue their own democracy and freedom. Tai-wan is a bastion of democracy in Asia, and we will always support these universal values. President Tsai also noted that sever-al Hong Kong students currently in Taiwan came to the Presidential Office to voice their concerns. There are concerns that the amendment to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance infringes on human rights. Tsai ex-pressed her hope that the Hong Kong government should take the protest demands seriously, engage in dialogue and communicate with the public, and refrain from rashly forcing through the legislation in question.

International

Taiwan urges Spain to live up to its commitments in human rights On June 6, 2019, Spain took the decision to extradite 94 Taiwan na-tionals to the PRC. The story begins much earlier in December 2016, when a huge telecom scam was unveiled by Spanish authorities and 269 suspects were arrested, among them 219 Taiwanese nationals. In May 2018, Spain extradited two of

these to face trial: not in Taiwan, but in China.The UN High Commissioner for Hman Rights issued a statement uring the Spanish government to halt the extradition process, witman rights experts pointing out Spain’s international commitment to avoid extraditions to any State where there is a welltorture and the risk of severe santions including capital punishment.Despite this plea, on June 6 2019 Spanish authorities extradited a futher 94 Taiwan nationals to The extraditions put Spain at odds with the wider EU, which in April this year raised the inhuman treatment of detainees in China in its annual hman rights dialogue with China. The movference to, major judicial issues in China, among them denial of family visits, lack of open and fair trials, torture or extrameasures and excessive jail time, all of which have been raised by the fapects.

President Tsaitouts Taiwan’s contribtions to global law eforcementOn June 10, opened the 22ence of the Associates AsiaTsai stated that ening global law enforcement and is willing and able to play an even biger role in combating international crime. Tsai said enforcement capabilities and occpies a strategic position inof the Indopositions front line of global policing efforts.The conference was a hosted by

Editorial: Taipei Representative Office in the EU and BelgiumWebsite: http://www.roc-taiwan.org/be_en/index.html

E-mail: infobel@mofa.gov.tw

Tel: +32(0)2/287.28.16 or +32(0)2/287.28.11

these to face trial: not in Taiwan, but in China. The UN High Commissioner for Hu-man Rights issued a statement urg-ing the Spanish government to halt the extradition process, with UN hu-man rights experts pointing out Spain’s international commitment to avoid extraditions to any State where there is a well-founded likelihood of torture and the risk of severe sanc-tions including capital punishment. Despite this plea, on June 6 2019 Spanish authorities extradited a fur-ther 94 Taiwan nationals to China. The extraditions put Spain at odds with the wider EU, which in April this year raised the inhuman treatment of detainees in China in its annual hu-man rights dialogue with China. The move suggests ignorance of, or indif-ference to, major judicial issues in China, among them denial of family visits, lack of open and fair trials, torture or extra-judicial investigative measures and excessive jail time, all of which have been raised by the families of the telecoms fraud sus-pects.

President Tsai Ing-wen touts Taiwan’s contribu-tions to global law en-forcement On June 10, President Tsai Ing-wen opened the 22

nd retraining confer-

ence of the FBI National Academy Associates Asia-Pacific Chapter. Tsai stated that Taiwan is strength-ening global law enforcement and is willing and able to play an even big-ger role in combating international crime. Tsai said Taiwan boasts strong law enforcement capabilities and occu-pies a strategic position in the heart of the Indo-Pacific. This uniquely positions the country to be at the front line of global policing efforts. The conference was a five-day event hosted by the Ministry of Justice

Investigation Bureaumore than 170 highforcement officials from 20countriesDeputy Director Paul Abbate. Its theme,in the AsiaGlobal Partnerships, Networks and Educationrelevant in the factarian challenges to global order.According to Tsai, respect for rule of law is a hallmark of free and demcratic countries the world over. Multnational cooperation is the best way of defending this shared value, and Taiwan is working with likepartners in achieving this goal while promoting peace, stability and properity in the Indo

Echoing Tsai’s remarks, Drector of the American Institute in Taiwan Raymond Greenewan is a close law ner of the U.S. and shares its visions and principles for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Kaohsiung Rope Rescue Teammur’s Grimpday ChallengeOn June 8, tRescue TeamGrimpday than 30 different teamcountries including Germany, France, Canada, China, Spain, Begium and the United States.The challenge events designed to test professional teams on their rescue abilities in tough situatgrit and knowthe contest, with many members having earned their stripes dealing with major disasters in Tawan.

Office in the EU and Belgium taiwan.org/be_en/index.html

)2/287.28.11

Friday, June 14, 2019

Investigation Bureau and involved more than 170 high-ranking law en-forcement officials from 20-plus countries, such as FBI Associate Deputy Director Paul Abbate. Its

, Combating Organized Crime in the Asia-Pacific Region through Global Partnerships, Networks and Education, is seen as particularly relevant in the face of rising authori-tarian challenges to the rule-based global order. According to Tsai, respect for rule of law is a hallmark of free and demo-cratic countries the world over. Multi-national cooperation is the best way of defending this shared value, and

wan is working with like-minded partners in achieving this goal while promoting peace, stability and pros-perity in the Indo-Pacific.

Echoing Tsai’s remarks, Deputy Di-rector of the American Institute in Taiwan Raymond Greene said Tai-wan is a close law enforcement part-ner of the U.S. and shares its visions and principles for a free and open

Pacific.

Competition

Kaohsiung Rope Rescue Team Champions at Na-mur’s Grimpday Challenge On June 8, the Kaohsiung Rope Rescue Team won Namur, Belgium's Grimpday challenge beating more than 30 different teams from 18 countries including Germany, France, Canada, China, Spain, Bel-gium and the United States.

challenge is a gruelling set of events designed to test professional teams on their rescue abilities in tough situations. The team showed grit and know-how to take the lead in the contest, with many of its team members having earned their stripes dealing with major disasters in Tai-