Santa Clara University

Long known for corrupt government, Taiwan is taking significant steps to end such activities by establishing its first anti-corruption government agency.

The Agency Against Corruption (AAC) will be under the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and led by a previous MOJ counselor. “The agency’s aim is to fight corruption, raise the conviction rate of corruption cases, and protect human rights.”

Ethics officers and investigators will make up the 180-person agency, including employees who handled a major scandal in 2008. In that case, the ex-minister of Interior was given a two-prison term but was instead suspended for five years.

The agency will rely on tips from local government organizations, and will work closely with law enforcement in their investigations. From there, the cases will be turned over to prosecutors.