06 September 2013, 10:10 AM IST
Most people will be forgiven for thinking China Airlines operates from Beijing. But at the headquarters of the carrier here in Taoyuan county, the Made in Taiwan spirit is writ large. Founded in 1959 China Airlines is run by an independent foundation supported by the Taiwanese government. It flies to as many as 110 destinations in 29 countries. With the Taipei Flight Information Region as its home base, the airline has ambitious plans to help convert Taiwan into a major transit hub in the Asia Pacific region.
Yet the baggage of history hangs like an albatross around the neck of Taiwan's aviation industry. With the recognition of the People's Republic of China in 1971, the international community forced Taiwan into diplomatic wilderness. This meant that Taiwan had no access to UN bodies in a fast globalising world. Even US support for Taiwan -- key for the island state's survival -- was made possible through an extraordinary Act of the American Congress.
However, despite the many challenges, Taiwan has gone from strength to strength. And this couldn't be truer for its aviation sector. Today the island state is a major aviation hub, servicing a major thoroughfare connecting Southeast to Northeast Asia. In fact the Taipei Flight Information Region covers 180,000 square nautical miles, catering to over 40 million passengers each year. In 2012, as many as 64 airlines operated through Taipei's airspace, including some of the busiest routes in the world.
Hence it boggles the mind that in spite of these staggering numbers, Taiwan remains outside the ambit of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The UN body is primarily responsible for formulating aviation guidelines and standard operating procedures for the global aviation industry. However, thanks to Beijing's objection, Taiwan has no direct link with ICAO or its policymaking architecture.
Nonetheless, Taiwan has not shied away from its responsibilities despite the obstacles. It continues to follow ICAO standards, rules and regulations, ferreting out information through informal channels and sympathetic international partners. However, there is no denying that this is a tedious process, requiring Taiwan to spend additional resources to catch up with the rest of the world every time ICAO effects a rule change or upgrades safety procedures.
Aviation is a global business. The interconnectedness of the industry is vital to its success. In such a scenario, leaving Taiwan out of the global aviation loop makes absolutely no sense. Besides, if countries and their respective airlines use the Taipei Flight Information Region for their business, it defies logic not to extend Taiwan the same courtesy as any other air-faring nation.
As things stand, Taiwan is seeking observer status in the ICAO in order to meaningfully contribute to the global aviation industry. This request, like Taiwan's participation in the WHO assembly in 2009, is an imperative that the world must acknowledge. Watch this space for more.
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