US Lawmakers Urge ICAO to Include Taiwan, Oppose China Flight Route Extension

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has urged the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to oppose China's unilateral extension of the M503 and W121 flight routes in the Taiwan Strait, citing serious safety and sovereignty concerns. The lawmakers emphasized that these extensions bring civilian aircraft dangerously close to Taiwan-administered airspace and create potential conflict points with routes managed by Taiwan's Flight Information Region, which handles a high volume of flights annually. They criticized China's actions for disregarding international aviation procedures and ICAO's standards, which require coordination and risk mitigation in shared airspace. Additionally, the U.S. lawmakers called on ICAO to invite Taiwan as a guest to its upcoming 42nd assembly, highlighting Taiwan's ongoing exclusion from meaningful participation in international aviation discussions. The letter was signed by Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, Republican Representative John Moolenaar, Democratic Senator Gary Peters, and Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi. This appeal underscores the unresolved tensions between China and Taiwan over control and safety in the strategically important Taiwan Strait.