[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.
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