With the 42nd Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) set to take place in Montreal from September 23 to October 3, Taiwan is once again appealing for meaningful participation in the global aviation body. Officials emphasize that Taiwan’s active role is essential to strengthening regional safety, sustainability, and cooperation in civil aviation.
Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai underscored that the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR)—one of the busiest in East Asia—handles millions of passengers and flights annually, making it an indispensable part of ICAO’s network of over 300 FIRs. Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) ensures safety, efficiency, and regulatory alignment with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices despite being excluded from direct participation.
“From both a safety and risk management perspective, Taiwan must be able to engage with ICAO on equal footing,” Minister Chen stressed. “Aviation safety knows no borders, and ensuring seamless communication is vital to protecting passengers and maintaining the integrity of global air travel.”
Taiwan has consistently demonstrated its commitment to global aviation standards. Between 2020 and 2024, the country recorded zero aircraft accidents per million departures for both turbofan and turboprop operations. EVA Air was also ranked the 7th safest airline in the world in 2025 by AirlineRatings.com. On the sustainability front, Taiwan has adopted the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) into domestic law and launched a sustainable aviation fuel pilot program in April 2025.
Despite these achievements, Taiwan stresses the urgency of direct participation in ICAO technical meetings and training programs to ensure timely access to critical information. Exclusion, Taipei argues, runs counter to ICAO’s “No Country Left Behind” initiative and risks undermining the safety of international aviation operations in the region.
“As ICAO pursues its vision of Safe Skies, Sustainable Future, Taiwan stands ready to contribute its expertise and resources,” Chen said. “We call on ICAO to recognize the importance of Taiwan’s participation—not only for regional aviation safety but for the well-being of global air transport as a whole.”