TECRO extends its appreciations to four Co-chairs of Congressional Taiwan Caucus for introducing a resolution supporting Taiwan’s observer status in International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus (CTC), together with Congressman Gerald Connolly (N-NV), Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA) , the other three Co-chairs of CTC, introduced House Concurrent Resolution No. 266 on April 21, 2010. This resolution supports Taiwan’s participation as an observer in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. (TECRO) wishes to express its appreciations to the above-mentioned members of Congress for their sincere friendship and support.

This House resolution states that the Taipei Flight Information Region, under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China (Taiwan), covers an airspace of 176,000 square nautical miles and provides air traffic control services to over 1,350,000 flights annually along 12 international and 4 domestic air routes. The resolution also notes that Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was ranked in 2009 by the Airports Council International as the world’s 8th and 18th largest airport by international cargo volume and by number of international passengers respectively. The exclusion of Taiwan from the ICAO has prevented the organization from developing a truly global strategy to address security threats based on effective international cooperation, thereby hindering the fulfillment of its overarching mission to “meet the needs of the peoples of the world for safe, regular, efficient and economical air transport.” The resolution urges the United States Government take a leading role in gaining international support for the granting of observer status to Taiwan in the ICAO, and that the United States Department of State should provide briefings to or consult with Congress on any efforts conducted by the United States Government in support of Taiwan’s progress toward observer status in the ICAO.

This coming September, the ICAO will hold its triennial meeting in Montreal, Canada. The introduction of this resolution will have a positive effect for Taiwan’s quest for meaningful participation in the ICAO.

The Congressional Taiwan Caucus (CTC) has 140 members with four Co-chairs. The members have always supported various Taiwan-related resolutions and bills. This is the first time that four Co-chairs of the Caucus unanimously introduce a Taiwan-related resolution since CTC was founded in 2002.