Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung Sept. 18 expressed sincere appreciation to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for his unwavering support for Taiwan’s international participation.
The minister’s response came following the Sept. 12 letter from Cruz to State Secretary Marco Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, urging the U.S. to lead advocation for Taiwan’s full membership and participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization as a matter of aviation safety and national security. A copy of the letter was sent to ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar.
ICAO will convene its 42nd general assembly Sept. 23 in Montreal to address the most urgent issues facing the global aviation industry. The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee chair highlighted the role Taiwan plays in global aviation in the letter, saying that Taiwan’s exclusion limits the organization’s effectiveness in establishing global aviation standards.
According to the MOFA, the Taipei Flight Information Region, supervised by Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration, is an Indo-Pacific aviation hub and serves more than one million flights a year carrying tens of millions of passengers. The latest Airports Council International statistics also reflect Taiwan’s role in global aviation and the necessity of its participation in ICAO activities, mechanisms and meetings, the ministry added.
However, as a result of China’s interference, ICAO continues to exclude Taiwan and deny access for Taiwan to the latest civil aviation information, leading to potential risks in international aviation safety, the MOFA said.
The MOFA also expressed strong discontent over China’s disregard for international regulations and its unilateral decisions to activate the W121, W122 and W123 connecting paths of the M503 flight route that have seriously impacted aviation safety, peace and stability in the region.
The ministry said at a time when international civil aviation is faced with daunting challenges, ICAO should include Taiwan and all other stakeholders to fulfill its stated objective of “Safe Skies, Sustainable Future” for all. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw