Because of Beijing’s objections, Taiwan has been barred from participating in the International Civil Aviation Organization and the World Health Organization.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House Foreign Affairs Committee has urged the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to formally invite Taiwan to participate in its upcoming triennial assembly, in a letter calling the move “a matter of U.S. national interest.”
The Sept. 17 letter, led by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), who is the chairman of the committee, and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), its ranking member, told ICAO President Salvatore Sciacchitano that the U.N. agency “cannot fulfill its mandate while excluding Taiwan’s experience, perspective, and participation.”
The committee announced that it sent the letter to Sciacchitano in a statement on Sept. 19.
The lawmakers pointed out that Taiwan manages the Taipei Flight Information Region, one of about 300 worldwide, overseeing 18 international and four domestic routes. Additionally, Taiwan serves as a hub for 90 airlines operating passenger and cargo flights on 285 routes, connecting the island with 117 cities around the world, according to the letter.
Citing data from Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration, the lawmakers added that Taiwan’s biggest airport, Taoyuan International Airport, ranks 13th in the world for international passenger traffic and 10th for international air cargo volume.
“While Taiwan endeavors to maintain the highest standard of civil aviation, Taiwan remains excluded from ICAO’s technical meetings and secure platforms, leaving it without access to critical aviation safety information and undermining international aviation standards,” the lawmakers wrote.
Taiwan’s exclusion from the ICAO underscores ongoing efforts by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to curb the island’s participation in the international community. The Chinese regime claims it has the right to represent Taiwan, asserting that the self-governing island is a renegade province awaiting “reunification” with the mainland.
In addition to the ICAO, Taiwan has also been barred from participating in the World Health Organization because of Beijing’s objections.
The ICAO is set to convene its 42nd General Assembly from Sept. 23 to Oct. 3 in Montreal.
By Frank Fang
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