October 8, 2022
No. 285
The 41st Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) concluded on October 7. The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has continued to promote its meaningful participation in the ICAO Assembly and actively seek support from all sectors of the international community so as to jointly urge ICAO to facilitate Taiwan’s involvement.
The ICAO Assembly took place not long after China’s recent military exercises in the waters and airspace around Taiwan. The government of Taiwan has solemnly condemned these exercises, which escalated threats and intimidation against Taiwan and undermined regional and global aviation safety. Indeed, Taiwan has called on the international community to accord due attention to any irresponsible and deliberate actions that jeopardize global aviation safety.
Since the previous ICAO Assembly, a total of 1,160 political leaders, parliamentarians, and prominent international figures have backed Taiwan’s ICAO campaign, including officials from the executive branches of 24 countries and members of 73 legislative assemblies of 65 nations. This points to strong international affirmation of Taiwan’s efforts to seek pragmatic participation in ICAO. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely appreciates such support from all sectors of the global village.
Deputy Director General of the Civil Aeronautics Administration Lin Jiunn-liang led an ICAO taskforce to Montreal, Canada, to communicate Taiwan’s appeal for pragmatic participation on the sidelines of the ICAO Assembly, attending an international press conference and a diplomatic reception hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada. Furthermore, for the first time during an ICAO Assembly, Taiwan worked with Australia, Japan, and the United States to organize an international seminar under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF). Taiwan also held 22 bilateral meetings, engaging in professional exchanges with the United States and other countries, as well as nongovernmental organizations related to air travel. These concrete actions demonstrate Taiwan’s commitment and determination to advance global aviation safety and sustainability.
During this year’s ICAO Assembly, a number of diplomatic allies—namely, Belize, Eswatini, Guatemala, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tuvalu—backed Taiwan’s campaign for participation through oral or written statements. They stressed that aviation safety should not be tied to politics and urged ICAO to accept Taiwan’s involvement so as to realize ICAO’s principle of leaving no country behind in global cooperation on aviation safety. Furthermore, 12 diplomatic allies—namely, Belize, Eswatini, Guatemala, Haiti, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tuvalu—submitted letters to the ICAO Council President endorsing Taiwan’s campaign. MOFA appreciates these righteous gestures from diplomatic allies in staunchly advocating Taiwan’s participation. Diplomatic allies also stood behind Taiwan by holding bilateral meetings with the Taiwanese taskforce and attending Taiwan’s diplomatic reception and the GCTF seminar, among other actions.
Meanwhile, even more like-minded nations spoke up for Taiwan at the Assembly this year. France, Japan, and New Zealand again expressed support, as they did at the previous Assembly. Germany and the United States also called for justice for Taiwan at the event for the first time. US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg pointed out that Taiwan, which administers critical airspace, should have the opportunity to participate meaningfully in ICAO’s work. France, Germany, Japan, and New Zealand also stated that no country should be excluded from ICAO, that there should be no geographical blank in aviation safety, and that all active members of the international aviation community should be allowed to participate in ICAO.
Like-minded countries continue to proactively assist Taiwan during various events. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement in October 2021 endorsing Taiwan’s meaningful participation in ICAO and other international organizations. In February this year, a joint statement released to mark the United Kingdom-Australia summit underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and backed Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations as an observer or guest. In response to an interpellation in the House of Commons in May, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated Canada’s long-standing support for Taiwan’s inclusion in multilateral forums and bodies. All this shows that Taiwan’s appeal for meaningful participation in ICAO has won affirmation from major democracies around the world.
There has also been a noticeable increase in the magnitude of support from legislative branches of governments, with parliamentarians taking such actions as adopting resolutions, making interpellations at legislative sessions, and sending letters to the ICAO Council President and ICAO Secretary General. This year, in the United States, eight local legislatures approved Taiwan-friendly resolutions, federal Senators from both sides of the aisle introduced the Ensuring Taiwan Aviation and Safety Act, and the four cochairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus issued a statement endorsing Taiwan’s inclusion in the ICAO Assembly. These developments point to overwhelming bipartisan support for Taiwan’s participation in ICAO from members of the US Senate and House of Representatives. Moreover, 458 members of the interparliamentary Formosa Clubs in Europe and Latin America sent joint letters to the ICAO Council President strongly recommending that Taiwan be invited to attend the Assembly. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China also issued a joint communiqué backing Taiwan’s meaningful participation in ICAO.
To demonstrate Taiwan’s commitment to working with the international community to promote global aviation development and flight safety, MOFA devised the slogan “Reconnecting the world—Reconnecting Taiwan and ICAO” to complement the theme of this year’s ICAO Assembly. It also produced a promotional short film, Reconnection, highlighting Taiwan’s professional performance in the field of aviation. The film has been viewed nearly 13 million times. An op-ed by Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai was also published by nearly 100 prominent international media outlets such as the US Diplomat, the EU Political Report, and Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun.
MOFA sincerely thanks diplomatic allies and like-minded nations for recognizing Taiwan’s active role in global civil aviation and strongly supporting its participation in ICAO. The Taipei Flight Information Region under Taiwan’s purview is an indispensable link in ensuring international aviation safety. As ICAO promotes its vision of “reconnecting the world,” MOFA calls on ICAO to uphold professionalism and neutrality, give proper regard to the need and urgency of Taiwan’s participation, and allow Taiwan and all aviation stakeholders to jointly contribute to global aviation safety and sustainability. (E)