The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations passed a bill May 14 supporting Taiwan’s participation as an observer in the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The legislation, S. 579, introduced by Robert Menendez, committee chairman, and James M. Inhofe, co-chairman of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, directs the U.S. secretary of state to assist Taiwan in obtaining observer status at the next ICAO assembly, scheduled for Sept. 24 in Montreal, as well as “related meetings, activities and mechanisms thereafter.”
The bill was approved by voice vote and will now go to the full Senate. If passed by both the Senate and House of Representatives it would be sent to U.S. President Barack Obama to be signed into law.
“Allowing the government of Taiwan observer status at ICAO assemblies will ensure that it has access to the technical information it needs to continue to conform its civil aviation practices with evolving international safety standards,” Menendez said in a statement.
If the bill becomes law, the secretary of state would also be required to report to Congress within 30 days on U.S. efforts promoting Taiwan’s bid for observer status.
The Taipei Flight Information Region, covering 180,000 nautical miles, is one of the busiest in Asia. In 2012 it provided services to nearly 1.3 million flights carrying 40 million travelers, according to the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Taiwan is connected to 117 cities around the world via 181 passenger and 86 freight routes. (THN)
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