Taiwan was ranked as the fifth least corrupt economy in the Asia-Pacific region in the latest Corruption Perception Index report released March 24 by Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd.
The country’s score of 5.15 in the annual survey, improved from last year’s 5.37, saw it finish behind Singapore, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong. Economies evaluated in the report are ranked on a scale of zero to 10, with zero the best possible result.
The Agency Against Corruption under the Ministry of Justice said the index shows government efforts to root out graft are paying dividends. Ethical oversight measures are expected to see sustained results over the long term, it added.
Commitment to anti-corruption is an important indicator of a country’s determination to enhancing global competitiveness, the AAC said, adding that the government will continue society-wide measures to increase public transparency and promote clean governance.
The index was compiled based on the opinions of local and international businesspeople working in the region. Other economies included are Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and the U.S.
Established in 2011, the AAC aims to align the country’s standards with the U.N. Convention against Corruption while promoting the integrity of policy planning, preventing corruption and investigating and prosecuting ethical violations.
