Taiwan’s ICAO observer-bid garners European and global support

by EBR

The US, Australia and Guatemala have already voiced their concerns over Taiwan being denied valuable access to the international aviation community. Recently, voices in the EU and Canada followed their example.

The terrorist attacks of September 2001 demonstrated how vulnerable our global civil aviation network is to system gaps. Despite the established international consensus regarding a uniform approach to aviation security that fosters international cooperation, exclusion from the ICAO since 1971 has impeded the efforts of the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to maintain civil aviation practices that keep pace with evolving international standards.

By becoming an observer to the ICAO’s meetings, mechanisms and activities, Taiwan aspires to meaningful participation in that body, so as to better contribute to the safeguarding of regional and global aviation safety. Currently, Taiwan does not have access to the information loop and is required to make additional efforts to obtain background information on any new policies. This hinders Taiwan’s ability to provide safe and efficient air transport services.

Taiwan is an indispensable link in East Asia’s air traffic network with the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) covering some of the busiest airspace in East Asia. Every year, nearly 1.3 million flights carrying 40 million travelers pass through the region, which covers 180,000 square nautical miles. On a weekly basis, this equates to roughly 150 scheduled flights to and from Europe; 400 to and from the US; 660 to and from Japan; and over 1,200 across the Taiwan Strait.

In a recent letter to Mr. Raymond Benjamin, Secretary General of the ICAO, more than 80 MEPs called for the international body to support Taiwan’s request. MEP Charles Tannock, Chairman of the EP-Taiwan Friendship Group, was one of the signatories. In the letter the MEPs state: “The Taipei FIR plays a critical role in this area. It is clear that it would be of significant benefit, both to Taiwan and to the ICAO, to allow Taiwan to participate in the Organisation as an observer.”

Mr. Tannock is not the first voice supporting Taiwan in its ICAO observer bid. In the past two months Taiwan has continued to garner more and more backing from the international community. In June, a bill calling for the US Secretary of State to endorse Taiwan’s observer status in the ICAO was passed by the US House of Representatives and the Senate, and was signed into law by US President Barack Obama on July 12. “Safe, secure, and economical international air navigation and transport is important to every citizen of the world”, it concluded. Lawmakers in Colombia and Australia closely followed the US’s example later that month. The Nicaragua National Assembly has also recently unanimously passed a statement backing Taiwan’s participation.

In their letter, the MEPs highlight the benefits for the EU should Taiwan be included in the international aviation community: “With roughly 150 scheduled flights to and from Europe it is in the interest of the European Union to support the inclusion of Taiwan as an observer to the ICAO to allow it to continue to provide for the safety of European passengers.” They urge the ICAO Secretary General to invite Taiwan as an observer to September’s ICAO Assembly, referring to the successful precedent established in 2009 when the ROC was first invited as an observer in the World Health Assembly. The Belgian House of Representatives has written a similar letter to the ICAO management recalling that Belgium already adopted a resolution in support of Taiwan’s participation as an observer in 2012.

Taiwan’s request continues to gather support from the international community, with increasing media coverage. Attending the Assembly as an observer is the first step towards its meaningful participation in the ICAO – a great leap forward for Taiwan and evidence that political boundaries should never trump aviation safety. Taiwan expects to make considerable headway in its aviation policy should its request to attend this year’s Assembly in Montreal be granted. It is of the utmost importance for the Taipei FIR to be involved in the ICAO’s promotion of safe development of international civil aviation and the development of standards and regulations for aviation security. Taiwan will continue to gather support from the international community and seek participation as observer in the ICAO.