Crime in Taiwan ranges from food adulteration, bombing, assassination attempts, hostage crisis, murder etc.[1] However, crime statistics show that crime rates in Taiwan are among the lowest in the world, and are relatively low compared to much of the developed world. A 2020 report named Taiwan the second-safest country in the world, based on low crime rates and a high number of survey respondents who indicated that they felt safe walking alone at night.[2]
Law enforcement agencies
edit
The National Police Agency is the top law enforcement body in Taiwan with its subordinate Criminal Investigation Bureau.
List of notable crimes
editAssassination attempts
edit- President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu assassination attempt on 19 March 2004
- Presidential Office Building Truck Attack on 25 January 2014
Bombing
edit- Taiwan McDonald's bombings on 28-29 April 1992
Hostage crisis
edit- Alexander family hostage crisis on 18 November 1997
Murder
edit- Nantou shooting on 21 September 1959
- Murder of Peng Wan-ru on 30 November 1996
- Murder of Pai Hsiao-yen on 20 April 1997
- Murder of Weng Chi-nan on 28 May 2010
- Taipei Metro attack on 21 May 2014
Human trafficking
editSex trafficking
editTaiwanese and foreign women and girls are sex trafficked in Taiwan. They are raped and harmed in brothels, hotel rooms, and other locations throughout the country.[3][4][5][6][7]
Illegal drugs
editMarijuana
editMarijuana is criminalized in Taiwan with strict penalties for possession, production, and distribution.[8]
Forced labor
editFishing industry
editTaiwan's overseas fishing fleet has been criticized for a history of abuse and a lack of protection for migrant laborers, often from Southeast Asia. Official Taiwanese sources put the number of foreign workers aboard Taiwanese vessels at 26,000 but NGOs and US government agencies put the figure around 160,000. Foreign fishermen frequently report non-payment, long work hours, and verbal and physical abuse at the hands of their captains and officers, who are often Taiwanese.[9] In recent years Taiwan has made significant progress on the issue, but abuse remains widespread. In terms of human rights the distant waters fishing fleet lags far behind the rest of Taiwanese industry.[10]
A 2020 Greenpeace investigation found Taiwanese vessels in the Atlantic Ocean engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. They also found significant evidence of the abuse of foreign laborers. They also documented Taiwanese fishing companies using flags of convenience to obscure vessel ownership as well as unreported at sea transfers of fish.[11] Taiwanese fisheries conglomerate FCF was specifically singled out for criticism for links to illegal fishing and forced labor.[12]
In October 2020 the US Department of Labor added the Taiwanese distant waters fleet's products to its list of goods produced by child or forced labor.[13] In May 2021 the Control Yuan ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labor, and the Fisheries Agency to address the issue and heavily criticized their lack of action.[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Taiwan 2015 Crime and Safety Report". osac.gov.
- ^ "Taiwan ranks 2nd safest country in world | Taiwan News | 2020-07-13 15:38:00". Taiwan News. 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- ^ "Sex trafficking ring busted, Vietnamese women rescued". Focus Taiwan. November 18, 2019.
- ^ "Taiwan News: 7 Human Trafficking Suspects Arrested in Missing Vietnamese Case". The News Lens. January 22, 2019.
- ^ "How migrant workers become human trafficking victims in Taiwan". AP Migration. August 3, 2015.
- ^ "Taiwanese trafficking victim who escaped POGO sex den comes forward". philstar. February 12, 2020.
- ^ "Taiwan's human trafficking issue". Taipei Times. November 26, 2006.
- ^ Kwan, Rhoda. "Interview: Green is the colour for Taiwan's pioneering 'weed lawyer'". hongkongfp.com. Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ Aspinwall, Nick. "The Danger to Taiwan's High Seas Fishermen". www.maritime-executive.com. Maritime Executive. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ Morris, James X. "The Dirty Secret of Taiwan's Fishing Industry". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Choppy Waters, Forced Labour and Illegal Fishing in Taiwan's Distant Water Fisheries" (PDF). www.greenpeace.org. Greenpeace. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ Monaghan, Elizabeth. "Who is FCF? Taiwan's biggest tuna trader linked to forced labour & illegal fishing". www.greenpeace.org. Greenpeace. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ Klinckhamers, Pavel. "Fishing firms must pay their dues". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ Aspinwall, Nick. "Taiwan Ordered to Address Forced Labor on Its Fishing Vessels". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 19 May 2021.