[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 27, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H6083-H6086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1240
SUPPORTING OBSERVER STATUS FOR TAIWAN IN INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION
ORGANIZATION
Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 266) expressing the sense of
Congress that Taiwan should be accorded observer status in the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 266
Whereas the Convention on International Civil Aviation,
signed in Chicago, Illinois, on December 7, 1944, and entered
into force April 4, 1947, approved the establishment of the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), stating
``The aims and objectives of the Organization are to develop
the principles and techniques of international air navigation
and to foster the planning and development of international
air transport so as to . . . meet the needs of the peoples of
the world for safe, regular, efficient and economical air
transport'';
Whereas following the terrorist attacks of September 11,
2001, the ICAO convened a High-level Ministerial Conference
on Aviation Security that endorsed a global strategy for
strengthening aviation security worldwide and issued a public
declaration that ``a uniform approach in a global system is
essential to ensure aviation security throughout the world
and that deficiencies in any part of the system constitute a
threat to the entire global system'', and that there should
be a commitment to ``foster international cooperation in the
field of aviation security and harmonize the implementation
of security measures'';
Whereas, on January 22, 2010, the Secretary General of the
ICAO stated, ``The attempted sabotage of Northwest Airlines
Flight 253 on 25 December [2009] is a vivid reminder that
security threats transcend national boundaries and can only
be properly addressed through a global strategy based on
effective international cooperation.'';
Whereas the Taipei Flight Information Region, under the
jurisdiction of the Republic of China (Taiwan), covers an
airspace of 176,000 square nautical miles and provides air
traffic control services to over 1,350,000 flights annually
along 12 international and 4 domestic air routes;
Whereas over 174,000 international flights carrying more
than 35,000,000 passengers travel to and from Taiwan
annually, reflecting its importance as an air transport hub
linking Northeast and Southeast Asia;
Whereas a total of 30 airlines, 23 of which are foreign-
owned, provide scheduled flights to Taiwan;
Whereas airports in Taiwan handle more than 1,580,000
metric tons of air cargo annually;
Whereas Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was ranked in
2009 by the Airports Council International as the world's 8th
and 18th largest airport by international cargo volume and
number of International passengers respectively;
Whereas exclusion from the ICAO since 1971 has impeded the
efforts of the Government of Taiwan to maintain civil
aviation practices that comport with evolving international
standards, due to its inability to contact the ICAO for up-
to-date information on aviation standards and norms, secure
amendments to the Organization's regulations in a timely
manner, obtain sufficient and timely information needed to
prepare for the implementation of new systems and procedures
set forth by the ICAO, receive technical assistance in
implementing new regulations, and participate in technical
and academic seminars hosted by the ICAO;
Whereas, despite these impediments and irrespective of its
inability to participate in the ICAO, the Government of
Taiwan has made every effort to comply with the operating
procedures and guidelines set forth by the organization;
Whereas, despite this effort, the exclusion of Taiwan from
the ICAO has prevented the organization from developing a
truly global strategy to address security threats based on
effective international cooperation, thereby hindering the
fulfillment of its overarching mission to ``meet the needs of
the peoples of the world for safe, regular, efficient and
economical air transport'';
Whereas the United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy
Review, clearly declared its support for the participation of
Taiwan in appropriate international organizations, in
particular, on September 27, 1994, with the announcement by
the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific
Affairs that, pursuant to the Review and recognizing Taiwan's
important role in transnational issues, the United States
``will support its membership in organizations where
statehood is not a prerequisite, and [the United States] will
support opportunities for Taiwan's voice to be heard in
organizations where its membership is not possible'';
Whereas section 4(d) of the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C.
3303(d)) declares, ``Nothing in this Act may be construed as
a basis for supporting the exclusion or expulsion of Taiwan
from continued membership in any international financial
institution or any other international organization.''; and
Whereas ICAO rules and existing practices have allowed for
the meaningful participation of noncontracting countries as
well as other bodies in its meetings and activities through
granting of observer status: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
(1) meaningful participation by the Government of Taiwan as
an observer in the meetings and activities of the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will
contribute both to the fulfillment of the ICAO's overarching
mission and to the success of a global strategy to address
aviation security threats based on effective international
cooperation;
(2) the United States Government should take a leading role
in gaining international support for the granting of observer
status to Taiwan in the ICAO for the purpose of such
participation; and
(3) the United States Department of State should provide
briefings to or consult with Congress on any efforts
conducted by the United States Government in support of
Taiwan's progress toward observer status in the ICAO.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Nevada (Ms. Berkley) and gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Nevada.
General Leave
Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Nevada?
There was no objection.
Ms. BERKLEY. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker,
I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 266, expressing the sense of
Congress that Taiwan should be accorded observer status in the
International Civil Aviation Organization, the ICAO.
As cochairman of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, I have seen
firsthand the amazing progress that Taiwan has made in its economic and
political development. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Taiwan's economy
grew by more than an amazing 10 percent per year and is now the United
States' ninth-largest overall trading partner, with two-way trade in
2008 valued at $61.6 billion. Taiwan also is the sixth-largest
destination for U.S. agricultural exports, about $2.5 billion annually.
Meanwhile, Taiwan has developed one of the strongest democracies in
the region, having had several peaceful, democratic transfers of power.
I have met their current President, President Ma Ying-jeou, who is a
well-spoken, Western-educated leader who has worked very hard to reduce
tensions between Taiwan and China and concluded an Economic Cooperation
Framework Agreement with the PRC Government recently.
All the while, however, Taiwan has been shut out of participating in
international organizations like the International Civil Aviation
Organization. Founded in 1947, ICAO's goal is to ``meet the needs of
the peoples of the world for safe, regular, efficient, and economical
air transport.'' These goals can only be reached through a cooperative
approach that brings together the world's leading economies to share
best practices and information. We need look no further than this past
Christmas for a reminder of how our aviation security transcends
national boundaries and can only be addressed through a cooperative,
international strategy.
Mr. Speaker, Taiwan deserves to be brought into the ICAO as on
observer.
[[Page H6084]]
Over 174,000 international flights travel to and from Taiwan each year,
carrying more than 35 million passengers. Their air traffic controllers
now provide service to over 1.3 million flights each year. By cargo
volume, Taiwan has the eighth-largest airport in the world.
Yet Taiwan has been excluded from ICAO since 1971, which has impeded
Taiwan's efforts to maintain civil aviation practices that keep up with
rapidly evolving international standards. It is unable to even contact
ICAO for up-to-date information on aviation standards and norms, nor
can it receive ICAO's technical assistance in implementing new
regulations or participate in ICAO technical and academic seminars.
Despite these impediments, Taiwan has made every effort to comply
with ICAO's standards, but their continued exclusion from such an
important organization is nothing short of absurd. It not only hurts
Taiwan, it puts us and the entire world at risk. With such a heavy
volume of flights, Taiwan's exclusion has prevented ICAO from
developing a truly global strategy to address security threats based on
effective international cooperation. And regardless of one's position
on the One-China Policy, ICAO's own rules allow for ``noncontracting
countries'' to participate through observer status.
With this resolution today, we call upon the world community to grant
Taiwan observer status at the ICAO, not only to help Taiwan but to
ensure ICAO can fulfill its own stated mission and address threats to
aviation security. We call on the U.S. government to take a leading
role at ICAO to assist Taiwan in gaining this status and look forward
to working with our administration officials to track the development
of these efforts.
Mr. Speaker, enough is truly enough. It is time for the international
community to recognize Taiwan as one of the world's leading economies,
democracies, and responsible actors. It is a beacon of hope and liberty
in a very difficult region, and we should be embracing, not excluding,
these peace-loving people at every opportunity.
I hope ICAO will be only the beginning of Taiwan's reentry into the
world community, to ICAO, to the World Health Organization, and other
international organizations as appropriate.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise as a proud cosponsor of this important resolution, which calls
upon the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, to accord
observer status to Taiwan.
Can there be any doubt that Taiwan, which provides air traffic
control services for well over 1.3 million flights per year, needs to
be a part of the international organization responsible for air safety
and security? Is this especially not true in a post-September 11 world
where security in the skies is of paramount importance to not only the
American people but to all across the globe?
The provincial and shortsighted manipulations of Beijing's leaders
who seek to deny Taiwan's international space cannot stand in the way
of airport safety and security. It is time to bring to an end Beijing's
petty parlor games of one-upmanship and humiliating slights in the
running of international organizations.
If the alleged thaw in cross-Strait relations is to have any true
significance, it must and should begin in the meeting rooms of ICAO and
other international organizations. Those passengers, including our
American citizens, who travel on any one of the almost 200,000
international flights headed to and from Taiwan every year expect and
deserve every protection they can be afforded.
The time to let Taiwan begin to have constructive and meaningful
participation in ICAO is long overdue. The United States State
Department, as this resolution suggests, must assume a leading role to
ensure that this happens as quickly as possible. The security in the
skies of the people of Taiwan, of the people of the United States, and
the citizens of the world demand no less.
So I strongly, Mr. Speaker, and enthusiastically urge my colleagues
to support this important resolution.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BERKLEY. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from the great State of Oregon, Congressman Wu.
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in very strong support of House
Concurrent Resolution 266, to support Taiwan in its bid to participate
meaningfully in the International Civil Aviation Organization, known as
ICAO.
I would like to thank my good friend and colleague, Congresswoman
Shelley Berkley, and the other cochairs of the Taiwan Caucus for
introducing this important resolution.
I have long believed that the greatest existential threat to Taiwan
and, indeed, to any Nation is isolation, physical and psychological. I
applauded Taiwan's participation in the 62nd World Health Assembly last
year, which marked the first time since withdrawing from the United
Nations 39 years ago that Taiwan rejoined a United Nations-related body
as an observer. Taiwan's participation in the WHA was long overdue. Its
renewed participation was an occasion to celebrate and to mark the
beginning of what I hope is Taiwan's legitimate, growing involvement in
other international organizations which do not require statehood.
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Just as the United States supports Taiwan's meaningful participation
in the World Health Organization, so too should we take the lead in
supporting observer status for Taiwan in the International Civil
Aviation Organization.
ICAO was formally established in 1947 as a means to secure
international cooperation and the highest possible degree of uniformity
and regulations, standards, procedures, and organization regarding
civil aviation matters. The 1944 convention on ICAO stated, ``The aims
and objectives of the organization are to develop the principles and
techniques of international air navigation and to foster the planning
and development of international air transport so as to meet the needs
of the peoples of the world for safe, regular, efficient, and
economical air transport.''
Taiwan, one of United States' closest allies in the Asia-Pacific
region, is also a key transport hub that links Northeast and Southeast
Asia with approximately 2,600 weekly flights to and from neighboring
nations. In 2008, 174,000 international flights carrying more than 35
million passengers arrived in and departed from Taiwan. Moreover, in
2009, Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport was ranked by the Airports
Council International as the world's eighth largest airport by
international air cargo volume and 18th largest airport by
international passengers.
Failure to include Taiwan as an observer in ICAO needlessly and
recklessly endangers millions of passengers traveling through Taiwan,
traveling through connecting airports and throughout the world because
the threat of international terrorism finds any opportunity to enter
our worldwide air transport system to threaten every passenger.
Given Taiwan's prominent role in regional and international air
control and transport services, I support, and I believe the United
States Government should support, Taiwan's meaningful participation in
ICAO's meetings, mechanisms, and activities in order to ensure that
Taiwan civil aviation regulations fully comply with ICAO standards and
recommended practices. ICAO should find appropriate ways to incorporate
Taiwan into its global civil aviation network.
I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Con. Res. 266 to bolster
the integration of our friend Taiwan into the international air
transport system.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, at this time I am so pleased to yield
2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia, Dr. Gingrey, an esteemed
member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, as one of the cochairs of the
bipartisan Congressional Taiwan Caucus, I rise in strong support of
House Concurrent Resolution 266, and I particularly want to commend one
of my fellow cochairs, Ms. Shelley Berkley of Nevada, for her
leadership on this issue. Additionally, Mr. Speaker, I would like
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to applaud the leadership of other cochairs, Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of
Florida and Mr. Gerry Connolly of Virginia, for their work in bringing
this resolution to the floor, and I thank the gentlewoman from Florida
for yielding me time.
Since its inception in 1947, the International Civil Aviation
Organization, ICAO, has been a great resource for the international
community to develop and to foster the most efficient and the safest
means of airline travel across the world. In the aftermath of the
horrific terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, it was the ICAO that
convened a conference to endorse a uniform, international strategy to
ensure aviation safety throughout the entire world.
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, our friends in Taiwan have been excluded
from participation in the ICAO since 1971. Not only has that diminished
Taiwan's ability to stay at the cutting edge of aviation, it has also
presented obstacles to the international community as a whole, because
ICAO cannot completely fulfill its mission to meet the needs of all
people in efficient and safe air travel.
Taiwan has a very large footprint within commercial aviation that
warrants its inclusion within ICAO. The Taipei Flight Information
Region, as has been mentioned by my colleagues, covers an airspace of
176,000 square nautical miles. It provides air traffic control services
to over 1.3 million flights annually. Additionally, there are over
174,000 international flights carrying more than 35 million passengers
that fly in and out of Taiwan each and every year.
With this high volume of air traffic, Taiwan certainly deserves to
have a seat at the table of ICAO at least, Mr. Speaker, as an observer.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman.
Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. This is precisely what this concurrent
resolution seeks to accomplish. Providing Taiwan with meaningful
participation at ICAO benefits both the Taiwanese and the international
community as a whole.
Due to our longstanding relationship and our respect for our friends
in Taiwan, I want to urge all of my colleagues to support House
Concurrent Resolution 266.
Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana
(Mr. Burton), the ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on
the Middle East and South Asia.
(Mr. BURTON of Indiana asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. You know, I don't want to be redundant; I just
want to point out a couple of things that have been said because I
think everybody who is interested in air safety needs to understand
what the ramifications of this legislation are, and I hope my
colleagues will pay attention, those who aren't here on floor.
Taiwan's regional information center covers airspace of 176,000
square nautical miles and it provides air traffic control services to
over 1.35 million flights a year. Now, when you are talking about air
safety, and you are talking about that region--and many of us in this
body have gone to that part of the world--you have to realize how
important Taiwan's inclusion is because we are flying through that
airspace and they should have observer status.
In addition to that, as has been stated, it's the eighth largest
airport of international cargo volume in the entire world--so there are
a lot of flights regarding cargo that are flying out of there on a
regular basis--and it's the 18th largest airport as far as the number
of passengers are concerned.
The safety of millions and millions of people that fly in and out of
that entire region are at stake. In fact, they estimate as many as 10
million people's lives are at stake when they go through that area. So
it seems to me logical and reasonable that Taiwan have observer status.
It's important that everybody is coordinating, and Taiwan is an
extremely important asset to that region.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I want to thank the
sponsors, Mr. Diaz-Balart and Ms. Berkley, for sponsoring this bill. I
think it's extremely important.
Ms. BERKLEY. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I am very honored, Mr. Speaker, to yield 3 minutes
to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart), my colleague,
the ranking member on the Rules Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget
Process and cochair of the Taiwan Caucus.
Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. I thank my dear friend, the great
leader from south Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Today, a resolution, the resolution that we are debating, discussing,
has been brought to the floor. It has been authored by another great
leader, Congresswoman Berkley of Nevada, who I have the honor of
serving with on the Taiwan Caucus, both of us as cochairs. She is an
extraordinary leader, and I thank her for doing this.
Taiwan is such a special friend. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, I
often think about the undignified and treacherous betrayal of that
exemplary friend and ally, the Republic of China, when the United
States broke diplomatic relations--and again, I say, in a treacherous
and undignified manner--in 1978.
So everything and anything that we can do to help our friends in that
miracle of freedom and economic development, through their hard work
and talent, achieved through their hard work and talent, that miracle
of freedom and economic development that is Taiwan, anything that we
can do and everything that we can do to help them, is appropriate and
is dignified.
{time} 1300
So I thank my colleague, Ms. Berkley, for bringing this resolution to
the floor. I wholeheartedly support it and urge all of our colleagues
to do so as well.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 266.
For too long, Taiwan has been left out of international organizations
at the demand of China. Taiwan was denied access to the World Health
Organization, unable to participate as even an observer for over forty
years. Thankfully, that changed last year as a Taiwanese delegation was
able to observe meetings in Geneva. Infectious disease knows no
borders.
Congress had long pressed for this action through bills and
resolutions, so it is fitting that we once again take to the floor to
press for Taiwan's inclusion in the International Civil Aviation
Organization. Despite being home to the world's 18th busiest airport,
Taiwan has been kept out of an organization that aims to keep
passengers safe.
Indeed, as this resolution finds, Taiwan's exclusion from the ICAO
has impeded Taiwan's government from keeping up to date with aviation
standards, and prevented the implementation of new systems and
procedures. The 35 million passengers that travel to and from Taiwan
each year are done a great disservice by Taiwan's exclusion.
Mr. Speaker, in merely decades, Taiwan has gone from poverty to
prosperity and autocracy to democracy. We have a strong relationship
that stretches back over half a century. Today, our relations remain
strong. Passage of this resolution will only serve to strengthen this
relationship, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank all the speakers who spoke on this
important resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 266.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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