Taiwan rises in global rankings of least corrupt countries

Taipei, Jan. 25 (CNA) Taiwan moved up three notches to 25th in the 2021 Corruption Perception Index, which ranks the least corrupt countries in the world, according to the list released Tuesday by Transparency International.

On scale of 0-100, with 0 indicating highly corrupt and 100 very clean, Taiwan scored 68, putting it above the global average of 43 and the Asia-Pacific average of 45, the report showed.

Taiwan was listed in sixth place among the 28 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region, after New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and Japan, in the annual rankings, which are based on perceived levels of public sector corruption.

The Asia-Pacific region, where most countries sit firmly below the global average, have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by rolling out some of the world's biggest economic recovery plans, Transparency International said in its 2021 report.

"But such large-scale responses, conducted without adequate checks and balances, inevitably lead to corruption," said the Berlin-based international coalition against corruption.

The 2021 Corruption Perception Index did not state the specific factors that contributed to Taiwan's ranking, which was three notches higher than in 2020, but it made several recommendations for improvement in the region generally.

It promoted engagement of informed people who are able to assemble freely, speak openly and blow the whistle on corruption without fear of reprisal.

In the annual rankings of 180 countries and territories worldwide, Denmark, Finland and New Zealand, shared the No. 1 spot as the three least corrupt countries in the world, according to the report.

In a press release Tuesday, Taiwan's Agency Against Corruption said the country's ranking in the global Corruption Perception Index reflected the international community's continued recognition of Taiwan's efforts against corruption.