According to a report by the Taiwan-based China Times on October 21, representatives from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan stationed in Taiwan have repeatedly raised concerns regarding the NGO known as the Arab Business Association in Taiwan, claiming that the organization engages in misleading practices and potential fraud. However, instead of addressing these allegations, the association has countersued for defamation. The representatives from the three Middle Eastern countries expressed their dismay over what they perceive as the Taiwanese government’s lack of initiative in handling the case appropriately.
The Arab Business Association in Taiwan was registered as a social organization with Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior in 2018, and its leader is of Syrian descent. Since 2020, the NGO has claimed to assist Taiwanese citizens in making investments in Arab countries. However, some individuals reported that the certificates of origin issued by the association were not recognized by the intended commercial destination countries. In response, the representatives from the three Middle Eastern nations sent a letter to the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate the concerns. Instead of support, they faced a defamation lawsuit from the association demanding compensation of NT$2 million.
Despite the situation, both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior have only issued requests for the NGO to cooperate, with recent developments including online trolls sharing the representatives’ personal phone numbers and spreading false rumors, leading to harassment calls, which left the representatives feeling “sorrowful.”
In a statement, Kuomintang legislator Huang Jianhao criticized the government’s handling of the issue, warning that the lack of proactive measures could lead to a diplomatic crisis and tarnish Taiwan’s reputation, potentially labeling it as a “fraud island.” While concerns escalate, media reports indicate that the Arab Business Association in Taiwan remains active and maintains a vibrant presence on Facebook.
