Taiwan seeks international support for its ICAO bid

Taiwan seeks international support for its ICAO bid

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a series of brochures on 17 July as part of its efforts to gain international support for observer status for Taiwan in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

"The materials will be distributed to Taiwan's representative offices worldwide," said Chow Chin-fa, deputy director-general of the ministry's Department of International Organizations, in a routine press conference.

"The brochure, available in both English and Chinese, is available on the ministry's official website," he said.

Free luggage tags supporting Taiwan's bid for a place in the ICAO community are also being manufactured, Chow added.

The materials are a part of the Foreign Ministry's efforts to get Taiwan into the international body, which is a United Nations affiliate. Taiwan has been striving without success to participate in ICAO meetings and activities as an observer since 2009, as it is not a U.N. member.

Asked about the main obstacle for Taiwan's membership, Lily Hsu, head of the ministry's Department of International Organizations, said in a telephone interview that "politics is a major problem."

Because China is a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council with the power of veto, its objections to Taiwan's participation in U.N. subsidiary organizations carry a great deal of weight, she said.

However, she said that despite this, the Foreign Ministry will continue to press its case that Taiwan's participation in the ICAO can be meaningful.

Created in 1944, the ICAO sets standards and regulations for aviation safety and security. The organization also serves as a forum for cooperation on civil aviation for its 191 member states.

ENDS

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