‘One China’ or Air Safety?

Taiwan’s allies, formal and tacit, must come forward as they did with the WHA and support Taiwan’s effort to participate at ICAO, no matter how Beijing reacts 

Once again this week Beijing has demonstrated it would rather play politics than be a responsible stakeholder, this time by threatening to derail Taiwan’s efforts to participate at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) triennial assembly later this year because Taipei has refused to acknowledge the “one China” principle. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs applied earlier this year for Taiwan to be allowed to participate in the assembly, which will be held at ICAO’s headquarters in Montreal from Sept. 27-Oct. 7. Due to its status, Taiwan is not a recognized member of ICAO. Several countries have lobbied on Taiwan’s behalf for it to be given at least observer status. 

My op-ed, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.