Crime

Three Indicted in International Surrogacy Ring Linked to Taiwanese Clients

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By Howard Chang/John Van Trieste

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Three people have been indicted and two additional suspects are on a wanted list after authorities uncovered an international surrogacy ring involving at least 22 male Taiwanese customers over the past year. The case has drawn attention because surrogacy remains illegal in Taiwan. Prosecutors allege the network arranged overseas surrogacy services for Taiwanese clients, while investigators continue efforts to locate the remaining suspects. The investigation highlights ongoing legal and ethical debates surrounding cross-border surrogacy and enforcement challenges when services are arranged outside Taiwan but involve Taiwanese citizens.

Immigration officers and the local prosecutor’s office have come knocking at this maternity clinic in Taichung. Here, just maybe, will be evidence strengthening the case against a suspected ring that offered surrogacy services—something illegal under Taiwanese law.

Prosecutors say that for fees of up to US$126,000, the ring offered Taiwanese men a choice of egg donors and surrogate mothers based in Thailand. For an extra fee, the client could choose the baby’s sex. The company would collect prospective father’s sperm and impregnate the surrogate mother in Malaysia. As the pregnancy neared term, the surrogate mother would travel to Taiwan posing as a tourist in order to give birth. 22 Taiwanese men used this illegal service over the past year—overwhelmingly preferring male children.

HSU CHUN-HSIANG, NATIONAL IMMIGRATION AGENCY:

"The case is being treated as a violation of the Assisted Reproduction Act. The group put up a website to attract clients and let them select Thai egg [donors]."

VOICE OF CHANG YING-CHUN, HEALTH PROMOTION ADMINISTRATION:

"The criteria for people to access assisted reproduction under Taiwan’s current system are clearly outlined in [the provisions of] the Assisted Reproduction Act. Surrogacy is not allowed at present."

Health professionals say the process of sex selection can be especially harmful.

HUANG CHIEN-PEI, TAIWAN ASSOC. OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY:

"During sex selection it’s often necessary to extract and screen cells from the embryo and this can damage the cells."

Prosecutors have indicted three people, including one Chinese national—and they have put two other Chinese nationals believed to be behind the ring on the wanted list.

Howard Chang and John Van Trieste for TaiwanPlus.