By Wallace Minn-Gan Chow, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines
The 42nd International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly will convene in Montreal, Canada from September 23 to October 3, 2025, under the theme “Safe Skies, Sustainable Future.” Yet despite being a critical hub in global aviation, Taiwan remains excluded from ICAO—a gap that creates unnecessary risks in international air safety and undermines the very mission of the organization.
Taipei FIR: A Critical Link in Global Aviation
The Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) is one of the busiest in the world. In 2024 alone, it managed over 1.6 million flights and served 70 million passengers, seamlessly connecting Northeast and Southeast Asia. Taiwan not only upholds ICAO standards but also leads in advancing sustainable practices such as carbon-offset programs and the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). These measures directly contribute to reducing aviation emissions and achieving ICAO’s long-term vision of safe, secure, and sustainable skies.
Shared Stakes for the Philippines and Beyond
The safety implications go well beyond Taiwan. The Taipei FIR borders four others—Fukuoka, Manila, Hong Kong, and Shanghai—placing it at the crossroads of major international routes between China, Japan, and the Philippines.
For the Philippines, the connection is especially personal. Nearly half a million Filipinos visited Taiwan in 2024, a figure projected to surpass 600,000 in 2025. More than 200,000 overseas Filipino workers and residents currently live in Taiwan. Ensuring the safety of flights between the Philippines and Taiwan is therefore not just a matter of policy, but one that directly affects countless Filipino families and communities.
International Calls for Inclusion
Global leaders are increasingly voicing concern over Taiwan’s exclusion. In Canada’s House of Commons, Conservative MP Michael Cooper urged ICAO to “stop placating the Beijing dictatorship, put global aviation safety first, and invite Taiwan to participate.” He stressed that excluding “one of the largest and most responsible airspace managers creates a dangerous gap that undermines global aviation safety, and makes a mockery of ICAO’s stated mission.”
Liberal MP Judy Sgro, Chair of the Canadian-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, likewise reinforced the call, underscoring that Taiwan’s participation is essential to strengthening international aviation cooperation.
Safety Must Come Before Politics
Their messages are clear: granting Taiwan access to ICAO deliberations is not a political maneuver—it is a global safety imperative. Aviation knows no borders. Excluding Taiwan weakens the very system designed to protect international travelers.
With more than three-quarters of a million Filipinos relying on safe, direct air travel to and from Taiwan, the stakes are especially high for our region. The world cannot afford to look away. ICAO must invite Taiwan to the table—for the sake of safe skies, for the security of travelers, and for a sustainable aviation future.
About the author:
Wallace Minn-Gan Chow is the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines. A seasoned diplomat, he has served in various posts representing Taiwan’s interests abroad, including in the United States and Europe. Before his posting in Manila, he was Taiwan’s Representative to Germany, where he advanced Taiwan’s bilateral ties and international participation efforts. Ambassador Chow has extensive experience in international relations, economic diplomacy, and multilateral engagement, making him a strong advocate for Taiwan’s constructive role in global institutions such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).