Premier: Taiwan to seek admission to ICAO and world atmospheric measurement organizations

Responding to an interpellation by legislators on September 18 at the Legislative Yuan, Premier Wu Den-yih stated that Taiwan would seek admission to the International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The government will ask Taiwan’s diplomatic partners to write letters to the member states of related institutions to help bring this about.

The 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened on September 15. This marked the first time since Taiwan began its campaign for U.N. participation in 1993 that it has not asked diplomatic allies to propose General Assembly consideration of the issue. ROC Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Chin-tien Yang said that Taiwan received worldwide support for having taken a pragmatic approach this year in gaining admission to the World Health Assembly. The government will exercise further pragmatism by opting for participation in specialized U.N. agencies that are most beneficial and essential to the people.

The Central Weather Bureau stated that real-time climate monitoring data for Taiwan obtained via measurements with CWB equipment must be supplemented with data acquired through private-sector organizations such as the Japan Weather Association. Joining the UNFCCC would diversify Taiwan’s sources of international climate monitoring data and allow better training of personnel engaged in this field.

The Civil Aeronautics Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said that Taiwan’s aviation technological regulations are all based on ICAO regulations. Joining the organization would allow participation in discussions and early response preparations, helping boost Taiwan’s aviation standards and bring it in line with international norms.