TAIWAN 10.1 Organised Crime in Taiwan the Evolution and Patterns
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CHAPTER TEN TAIWAN 10.1 Organised Crime in Taiwan The evolution and patterns of organised crime in Taiwan are closely connected to developments in mainland China, and—to a lesser extent—in Hong Kong and Macau. In particular, the island has wit- nessed a great influx of triads and triad members from the mainland after the Communist victory and the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China in 1947. Moreover, it is well documented that Dr Sun Yat-Sen, founder of the Republic of China, was himself associated with triads, and that General Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang (KMT) nationalist movement were also strongly supported by secret societies.795 As the KMT leadership retreated to Taiwan and established an independent Republic of China, they were followed by many sup- porters, including the Green Gang.796 After the break-away of Taiwan from the mainland in 1949, the ruling KMT party placed the island under martial law to prevent any communist uprising and tightly controlled the borders especially inso- far as any trade across the Strait of Taiwan was concerned. The rigid control that was exercised over Taiwan during that period kept the activities of criminal organisations and crime rates very low. The lift- ing of martial law and the democratisation starting in 1987, accom- panied by the reduction of border controls, were followed by a rapid rise of organised crime in Taiwan and an influx of firearms and other contraband.797 The Government of Taiwan responded to the surge in organised crime activity with several enforcement campaigns. The first major and perhaps most ambitious operation was carried out in 1984 under 795 See further Section 7.1.1 above. 796 Keith & Lin, New Crime in China, 91–92; Lintner, ‘Chinese Organised Crime’, at 87–88; Ko-Lin Chin, ‘Triad Societies in Hong Kong’, at 54; Cheong, Hong Kong Triads in the 1990s, 227. 797 Ko-lin Chin, Heijin, 3, 6. 212 chapter ten the name yi-ching or ‘Cleansweep’ in order to wipe out gang members. It has been reported that: During the operation, thousands of law enforcement and military per- sonnel raided the strongholds of various crime groups. Within days, more than 1,000 leaders or senior members of the sixty-two prominent jiaotoao groups and gangs were arrested.798 Many of the people arrested at that time were later found to be inno- cent. The scale of the operation also caused a major displacement of the problem as it forced many of the island’s criminal organisations to other countries, especially Japan, the Philippines, and Thailand.799 Those that were rightfully arrested and detained were frequently placed in the same prisons where many underground figures met and formed new associations, such as the so-called Celestial Alliance group.800 The crack-down on organised crime around the time of Operation Cleansweep faded as quickly as it began and during the late 1980s and early 1990s many groups resurfaced or appeared under new names. Another significant campaign under the name chih-ping was launched on August 30, 1996 which resulted in the arrest of almost 500 key gang members, most of whom were swiftly transported to a maximum security prison on a remote island.801 The chih-ping initiative again forced many of Taiwan’s groups to relocate. Many gangs retreated to other countries in Southeast Asia such as Cambodia and Vietnam, and also to Macau.802 Many more, however, took advantage of China’s new open-door policy towards visitors from Taiwan and sought new opportunities from the opening of the economy in mainland China. Initially, groups like the United Bamboo group established operations and businesses in Guangdong, Shenzen, and the Pearl River Delta, and later spread to Shanghai and across mainland China.803 Other Taiwan- ese groups such as the Four Seas group, the Celestial Alliance and the Tian Dao Mun have also moved into eastern parts of the mainland, especially Shanghai and Fujian province.804 798 Ibid., at 168. 799 Ibid., at 194–197. See further Sections 14.1, 18.1 below. 800 Ko-lin Chin, Heijin, 169. 801 Ibid., at 171–172. 802 Ibid., at 197–201. See further Section 16.1 below. 803 Lintner, ‘Chinese Organised Crime’, at 92; Ko-lin Chin, Heijin, 204–209. 804 Yiu Kong Chu, ‘Global Triads: Myth or Reality?’, at 187; Ko-lin Chin, Heijin, 203–204, 209–210..