Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/11/06
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Nov. 6 (CNA) Brent Christensen, director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), said Tuesday that Taiwan's exclusion from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is contrary to the spirit of the organization and "defies common sense."

Speaking at a dinner for the participants in an international aviation safety conference in Taipei, Christensen said Taiwan is an important member of the global aviation community.

Its main gateway, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, served 46.5 million passengers in 2018 and is ranked 11th in terms of global passengers and fifth for cargo volume, Christensen said, citing data given by Transportation Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍).

"Taiwan's civil aviation authority has consistently maintained the highest safety standards and remains a critical partner for the United States in ensuring airline safety for travelers in the region," Christensen said at the dinner for the participants in the first International Air Safety Summit hosted by Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]