[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 121 (Tuesday, September 11, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H5846-H5847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TAIWAN OBSERVER STATUS IN THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur 
in the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 17) 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:

                            S. Con. Res. 17

       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, the 37th ICAO Assembly in October 2010 adopted a 
     Declaration on Aviation Security largely in response to the 
     attempted sabotage of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on 
     December 25, 2009, which established new criminal penalties 
     for the use of civil aircraft as a weapon, the use of 
     dangerous materials to attack aircraft or other targets on 
     the ground, and the unlawful transport of biological, 
     chemical, and nuclear weapons and related materials, along 
     with extradition arrangements that facilitate cooperation 
     among nations in apprehending and prosecuting those who have 
     undertaken these and other criminal acts;
       Whereas, on October 8, 2010, the Department of State 
     praised the 37th ICAO Assembly on its adoption of the 
     Declaration on Aviation Security, but noted that ``because 
     every airport offers a potential entry point into this global 
     system, every nation faces the threat from gaps in aviation 
     security throughout the world--and all nations must share the 
     responsibility for securing that system'';
       Whereas the Taipei Flight Information Region, under the 
     jurisdiction of Taiwan, ROC, covers an airspace of 176,000 
     square nautical miles and provides air traffic control 
     services to over 1,350,000 flights annually, with the Taiwan 
     Taoyuan International Airport recognized as the 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 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''; 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 Senate (the House of Representatives 
     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 garnering international support for the granting of 
     observer status to Taiwan in the ICAO for the purpose of such 
     participation; and
       (3) the 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 attainment of 
     observer status in the ICAO.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Berman) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to insert 
extraneous material into the Record on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Royce), who has a strong interest

[[Page H5847]]

in this issue related to Taiwan's status in the International Civil 
Aviation Organization.
  Mr. ROYCE. I thank the gentlelady for yielding.
  I do rise in support of this measure. 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. It was unable to 
participate as even an observer for over 40 years. Thankfully, though, 
that changed in 2009, when a Taiwanese delegation was allowed to 
observe meetings in Geneva. Infectious disease knows no borders. And it 
was only proper that that change was made. Congress had long pressed 
for this action through bills and resolutions.

                              {time}  1850

  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 new 
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 a relatively short period of time, Taiwan has gone 
from poverty to prosperity. It has gone from autocracy to democracy. We 
have a strong relationship that stretches back for 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 this measure.
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. Con. Res. 17 
and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I'd like to thank the sponsor of the legislation, the Senator from 
New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), and the chairman of the House Foreign 
Affairs Committee, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for their leadership on this 
issue.
  This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that Taiwan should be 
accorded observer status in the International Civil Aviation 
Organization, ICAO. Taiwan has made significant progress in its 
economic and political development. Today, Taiwan is a leading trade 
partner of the United States and stands as a beacon of democracy in 
Asia.
  However, Taiwan has been excluded from meaningful participation in 
ICAO, an international organization which is dedicated to ensuring safe 
and efficient air transportation around the globe.
  Taiwan clearly deserves to be brought into ICAO as an observer--a 
status specifically recognized under ICAO's own rules.
  Taiwan has jurisdiction over airspace comprising 176,000 square 
nautical miles and provides air traffic control services to over 1.3 
million flights each year. It has the eighth largest airport in the 
world by cargo volume, and the 18th largest by the number of 
international passengers.
  Taiwan's exclusion from ICAO has impeded Taiwan's efforts to maintain 
civil aviation standards to 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 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 not only hurts 
Taiwan, it puts the entire international aviation system at risk. 
Indeed, Taiwan's exclusion has prevented ICAO from developing a truly 
global strategy to address security threats.
  With this resolution, Congress calls on the international community 
to grant Taiwan observer status at ICAO, not only to help Taiwan, but 
to ensure ICAO can fulfill its own mission and address international 
threats to aviation security. We call on the United States government 
to take the leading role at ICAO to assist Taiwan in gaining that 
status and look forward to working with our administration officials to 
track the development of these efforts.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I will make some remarks, and then I 
will also yield back the remainder of our time.
  I rise in strong support of this important resolution which calls 
upon the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, to grant 
meaningful participation for Taiwan.
  Is there any doubt in a post-September 11th world that air traffic 
safety constitutes one of the first lines of defense against those who 
would do harm to the United States or to our friends and allies? Are 
not the people of Taiwan deserving of the same level of protection 
against air assault as provided to the other peoples whose governments 
participate in ICAO?
  The Taipei flight information region, under the jurisdiction of 
Taiwan, covers an airspace of 176,000 square nautical miles. Taiwan's 
main international airport is recognized as the eighth largest in the 
world in cargo traffic and the 18th in the number of international 
passengers who make use of its services.
  Can there be any doubt, therefore, that Taiwan, which provides air 
safety control services for well over 1,350,000 flights annually needs 
meaningful participation in the international organization responsible 
for air safety and security?
  Beijing, like some haughty overlord, condescendingly informed Taipei 
and the U.N. system in the year 2009 that it would allow, at least 
temporarily, Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly. 
Meaningful participation in international organizations for Taiwan 
represents too important an issue to be determined only by the whims of 
Beijing.
  It is time to open the door to Taiwan's constructive and meaningful 
participation in ICAO, and that time is now.
  The State Department, as this resolution suggests, should assume a 
leading role in providing an action plan to ensure that this happened 
as quickly as possible. We owe this, Mr. Speaker, to the people of 
Taiwan. We owe this to ensure as well for the air safety of those 
American passengers flying over the skies of the western Pacific.
  And here I am not speaking just in theoretical terms, Mr. Speaker. 
Let us not forget that it was less than three decades ago when, due to 
a tragic confusion in air communications, a Soviet military fighter 
shot down a Korean Air Lines civilian flight as it left western Pacific 
and flew inadvertently over Soviet territory. As we know, this resulted 
in the death of all 269 people on board, including a Member of this 
House, Congressman Larry McDonald of Georgia's Seventh District. The 
Congressman was traveling to Seoul to commemorate the 30th anniversary 
of the United States-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty.
  So air safety control is, therefore, a very serious matter. Taiwan 
needs meaningful participation in ICAO not only for the safety and 
security in the air of its own citizens but also for all of the peoples 
of the vibrant Asia Pacific region.
  ICAO will be holding its 12th Air Navigations Conference in November, 
and Taiwan should be, must be represented there in Montreal.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I urge that my colleagues join Mr. Berman and me in 
expressing their overwhelming support for this important resolution.
  With that, I yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the 
rules and concur in the concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res. 17.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________