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As the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) prepares for its 42nd Assembly, holding from September 23 to October 3, in Montreal, Canada, Taiwan has urged it to accord it fair treatment and approve its participation.
The theme of this year’s session is “Safe Skies, Sustainable Future.” The world body convenes its Assembly once every three years.
In a statement by Taiwan Transport and Communication Minister, Chen Shih-kai and made available to Daily Sun by Taiwan Representative and Head of Mission in Nigeria, Mr Andy Yih-Ping Liu, the South East country said it had met all the requirements to participate in the 42nd session of the world body, stressing that its participation would be a testimony of ICAO’s ‘No One Left Behind’ initiative and a demonstration of fairness to his country.
Precisely, Taiwan is seeking to “fully participate in its Assembly, technical meetings and mechanisms to ensure regional aviation safety and development needs, thereby achieving safe skies amid a sustainable future.”
He wants ICAO to permit its Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) participate in the world body’s assembly “on an equal footing with the oversight agencies of other FIRs. This, he said, “will ensure that the Taipei FIR can communicate directly with other FIRs as well as with ICAO to ensure the free flow of timely information.”
Chen noted that despite the fact that Taipei Flight Information (FIR) covers one of the busiest regions in the South East for air travel, ICAO was yet to invite it to its global meetings. This is even as Taiwan is an indispensable part of the ICAO network of over 300 FIRs.
According to Chen, Taiwan wants the world body to consider the fact that Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) is the sole entity responsible for overseeing the Taipei FIR.
Also, it wants ICAO to appreciate its strict observance of its rules and regulations.
The minister was quick to explain that, “The CAA offers a comprehensive range of information services and manages air routes to ensure safety and efficiency for all flights and passengers arriving in, departing from and transiting to the Taipei FIR.”
Lamenting the adverse effects of Taiwan’s exclusion from the world body’s assembly, Chen pointed out that, “The CAA does its best to collect the information it can via indirect channels.”
And because of its commitment to observing ICAO rules and regulations, it “invites aviation experts from other countries to hold training courses.” This, Chen said: “helps to achieve international aviation safety management standards.”
He further explained that Taiwan “adopts or modifies regulations, systems and procedures in line with ICAO standards in ways that benefits global and regional aviation safety,” adding that it “has initiated a state safety programme and collaborates with aviation industry stakeholders through this programme to establish safety oversight systems.
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“This has contributed to Taiwan’s exceptional overall safety performance.”
According to the minister, “From 2020 to 2024, the five-year moving occurrence rates of turbofan and turboprop aircraft were zero (zero accidents per million departures).”
He insisted that, “the safety performance of Taiwan’s aviation industry has also been remarkable.”
He cited EVA Air which he said: “has been recognised as one of the world’s safest full-service airlines by AirlineRatings.com and was ranked seventh-safest in 2025.”
Continuing, the minister drew attention to Taiwan’s sustainable development of the aviation industry. “To further sustainable development of the aviation industry, the CAA has incorporated the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) into domestic law and launched a sustainable aviation fuel pilot programme in April 2025. This demonstrates the determination of Taiwan’s aviation industry to take concrete steps toward a net-zero transformation.”
Chen was emphatic when he said: “Despite these efforts, to ensure access to timely and comprehensive information, the CAA must be allowed to participate in the technical meetings and training opportunities offered by ICAO.
“ICAO should act in line with its ‘No One Left Behind’ initiative to rectify the fact that the CAA remains unable to participate in its activities.”
Chen defended Taiwan’s demand to be an active participant in ICAO activities, being a stakeholder in the aviation industry.
“Aviation safety knows no borders. For decades, the CAA has mandated and upheld the highest standards of service and safety for the Taipei FIR, while meeting ICAO standards and recommended practices.
“As a stakeholder in the international aviation community, Taiwan shares in the responsibility to safeguard regional and global aviation safety.
“Through participation in ICAO, Taiwan will be able to continue to work with other countries to contribute to the development of global aviation and the well-being of all mankind.
The minister believes that, “with meaningful participation, Taiwan can contribute its professional expertise in pursuit of ICAO”s vision of safer skies and a more sustainable future.”
