From September 23 to October 3, 2025, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will convene its 42nd Assembly in Montreal, themed ‘Safe Skies, Sustainable Future.’ However, Taiwan, a key player in East Asia’s aviation landscape, remains excluded from the organization’s meetings and data-sharing platforms. This exclusion not only undermines regional safety but also contradicts ICAO’s mission of fostering global cooperation. Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) oversees the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR), a strategic hub connecting Northeast and Southeast Asia, handling over 1.6 million flights annually. Despite its critical role, Taiwan’s absence from ICAO limits coordination and poses risks in one of the world’s busiest airspaces. Taiwan’s aviation sector is deeply integrated into global networks, with its 17 airports serving 64 million passengers in 2024. Taoyuan International Airport ranks among the top globally, and Taiwan’s aviation safety record is exemplary, with zero accidents per million departures from 2020 to 2024. Additionally, Taiwan supports ICAO’s sustainability goals, implementing initiatives like CORSIA and launching a sustainable aviation fuel pilot program. However, China’s unilateral actions, such as declaring danger zones and activating new air routes without ICAO-required notice, have disrupted operations and endangered passengers. The 2022 missile exercises around Taiwan further highlighted the need for ICAO-facilitated dialogue and risk mitigation. Rising turbulence linked to climate change has also impacted global flights, and while Taiwan has enhanced its training and planning protocols, its lack of access to ICAO’s Secure Portal and real-time data hampers its ability to adapt. ICAO’s ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative emphasizes universal participation, and granting Taiwan access to its platforms would improve data sharing, coordination, and compliance with global standards. As ICAO opens its 42nd Assembly, it has an opportunity to align principle with practice by including Taiwan in its Assembly, technical bodies, and data platforms. This would enhance global oversight and advance ICAO’s vision of an inclusive, sustainable aviation system. The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has long supported Taiwan’s efforts to engage meaningfully with ICAO, and the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) deeply appreciates this continued support.
Taiwan’s Participation in ICAO: A Cornerstone for Safe Skies and a Sustainable Future
