TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) clarified during a Legislative Yuan session on Monday (Oct. 21) that the Arab Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ACCT) could face repercussions if it conducts business beyond its registration as a social association.

Complaints were filed against ACCT by the Saudi Arabian Trade Office, the Sultanate of Oman Commercial Office in Taipei, and the Jordanian Commercial Office. These complaints allege that ACCT misused their flags on social media and provided document certification services, violating its status as a social association.

In response, ACCT filed charges against representatives of these offices, raising concerns about potential breaches of diplomatic immunity, according to UDN.

Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) questioned Lin about ACCT's activities and its confusion with official representatives. Lin explained that while ACCT is registered under the Ministry of Interior (MOI), penalties will be imposed if investigations show it has misrepresented its role or misled others into believing it was an official representative body, per CNA.

KMT Legislator Niu Hsu-ting (牛煦庭) followed up by asking if MOFA had investigated the matter. Department of West Asian and African Affairs Director-General Ho Chung-yi (賀忠義) stated that MOFA had alerted MOI about ACCT’s actions, prompting MOI to suspend ACCT’s document certification services.

Addressing police actions, Lin emphasized MOFA's commitment to protecting the diplomatic immunity of foreign representatives. He urged law enforcement and prosecutors to keep MOFA informed and ensure compliance with relevant regulations in cases involving foreign representatives.

Lin reiterated that Taiwan is obligated to uphold diplomatic immunity in accordance with bilateral agreements.