A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that Taiwan should be accorded observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

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).

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.

I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), who has a strong interest

in this issue related to Taiwan's status in the International Civil Aviation Organization.

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.

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.

Mr. Speaker, as one of the Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Taiwan Caucus, I rise in strong support of S. Con. Res. 17. I particularly want to commend Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen and Ranking Member Berman for bringing this concurrent resolution to the floor. Additionally, I would like to applaud the work and leadership of our other Co-Chairs--Ms. Berkley of Nevada, Mr. Diaz- Balart of Florida, and Mr. Connolly of Virginia--for their work supporting our relationship with Taiwan.

Since its inception in 1947, the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, has been a great resource for the international community to develop and foster the most efficient and safest means of airline travel across the world. In the aftermath of the horrific terrorist attacks 11 years ago today on September 11, 2001, it was the ICAO that convened a conference to endorse a uniform international strategy to ensure aviation safety throughout the world.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, our friends in Taiwan have been excluded from participation in the ICAO since 1971. Not only has that diminished Taiwan's ability to stay at the cutting edge of aviation, it has also presented obstacles to the international community as a whole because the ICAO cannot completely fulfill its mission to meet the needs of all people in efficient and safe air travel.

Taiwan has a very large footprint within commercial aviation that warrants its inclusion within the ICAO. The Taipei Flight Information Region covers airspace of 176,000 square nautical miles and provides air traffic control services to over 1.3 million flights annually. Additionally, there are over 174,000 international flights carrying more than 35 million passengers that fly in and out of Taiwan each year. With this high volume of air traffic, Taiwan certainly deserves to have a seat at the table of the ICAO--at least as an observer.

Mr. Speaker, this is precisely what this concurrent resolution seeks to accomplish. Providing Taiwan with meaningful participation at the ICAO only benefits both the Taiwanese and the international community as a whole. Due to our longstanding relationship and respect for our friends in Taiwan, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. Con. Res. 17.

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.

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. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 115, S. Con. Res. 17.

Mr. President, I know of no further debate on this resolution.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to this matter be printed in the Record.