Washington encourages the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to engage each other on the basis of dignity and respect, a senior US Department of State official said on Friday, after Taiwan was not invited to attend an upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assembly, apparently due to China’s objections.
The US has an abiding interest in cross-strait dialogue, stability and peace and in supporting Taiwan as it seeks to expand its contributions to addressing global challenges, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific Daniel Russel said.
“Where there are steps by either side to reduce tensions and to foster constructive dialogue and engagement, we welcome it, and we encourage the two sides to engage on the basis of dignity and respect,” Russel said during a briefing at the New York Foreign Press Center, in response to a question on Taiwan’s failed ICAO bid.
He said Washington supports Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the ICAO and in international organizations where statehood is not a prerequisite for membership.
“Aviation safety, aviation security, [and] aviation efficiency are matters of importance to all of us, and we think that all interested stakeholders can play a positive role in ensuring that standards and regulations are met around the world,” Russel said.
The ICAO is a UN specialized agency responsible for establishing worldwide aviation policies. The 39th ICAO assembly is to be held from Tuesday to Oct. 7 at the ICAO’s headquarters in Montreal, Canada, and Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lee (李大維) confirmed on Friday that Taiwan had not been invited to attend the meeting.
In 2013, Taiwan was represented at the 38th ICAO assembly by Jean Shen (沈啟), then-director-general of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, who was invited as a special guest of then-ICAO council president Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez.
That marked Taipei’s first representation at the ICAO assembly since losing its seat in the UN to Beijing in 1971.
Opposition from Beijing is widely believed to be the main reason behind the ICAO’s decision to not invite Taiwan this year.
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