US, Canada, AIT Urge ICAO to Invite Taiwan

U.S. and Canadian lawmakers, joined by the American Institute in Taiwan, have urged the International Civil Aviation Organization to formally invite Taiwan to the 42nd ICAO Assembly in Montreal, arguing its participation is essential to global aviation safety. They note Taiwan administers the Taipei Flight Information Region, overseeing services for 90 airlines and 285 passenger and cargo routes linking 117 cities and managing over 1.6 million flights and 70 million passengers annually. Advocates say Beijing’s repeated, often unannounced military exercises and other encroachments on Taiwan’s airspace have disrupted routes, violated ICAO norms and increased the risk of avoidable incidents. The AIT specifically called on ICAO Secretary‑General Juan Carlos Salazar and Assembly President Salvatore Sciacchitano to facilitate Taiwan’s participation as a guest of the Council president. Taiwan has sent a delegation led by Civil Aeronautics Administration deputy director‑general Lin Chun‑liang to hold sideline meetings and presented concrete proposals and actionable recommendations. Bipartisan letters from the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee characterize Taiwan’s inclusion as a matter of U.S. national interest and say ICAO cannot fulfill its mandate while excluding Taiwan.