MOFA and MOTC hold joint press conference to urge UN and ICAO to include Taiwan and ensure no one is left behind and safe skies

MOFA and MOTC hold joint press conference to urge UN and ICAO to include Taiwan and ensure no one is left behind and safe skies

• Date：2025-09-09
• Data Source：Department of International Organizations

September 9, 2025

No. 327

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Baushuan Ger and Administrative Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Kuo-shian held a joint press conference on September 9 to promote Taiwan's bids to join the United Nations (UN) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). During the event, they explained the government's appeals and strategies to advance Taiwan's participation in the UN and ICAO this year and called on the two organizations to include Taiwan at the earliest possible juncture.

The press conference was held as the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opened at UN headquarters in New York City on September 9. The General Debate will be held from September 23 to 27 as well as on September 29. Separately, the 42nd session of the triennial ICAO Assembly will take place at ICAO headquarters in Montreal, Canada, from September 23 to October 3.

Vice Minister Ger stated that the international community was facing serious challenges. In particular, he mentioned China's continued gray-zone activities in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, and Indo-Pacific, as well as its use of lawfare, namely its misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758, in an attempt to transform the Taiwan Strait into China's internal waters and establish a legal basis for a future armed invasion.

Vice Minister Ger pointed out that while China often claimed to be a defender of multilateralism, regional peace, and international law, its actions were flagrantly the opposite, as it continually disregarded relevant international rules. He then cited examples: China announced adjustments to the M503 flight route and unilaterally activated the W121, W122, and W123 routes without prior consultation with Taiwan as is required by the ICAO Air Traffic Services Planning Manual. Additionally, in February, China abruptly designated a military exercise zone off the coasts of Kaohsiung and Pingtung in Taiwan for live-fire drills. He added that such actions demonstrated that there was a discrepancy between China's claims and actual conduct and underscored its designs to disrupt the rules-based international order, which posed a serious threat to regional peace and aviation safety.

Vice Minister Ger emphasized that Taiwan, located on the front lines in the first island chain in the Indo-Pacific, firmly upheld the values of democracy and freedom. Noting that Taiwan was an economic and technological powerhouse, he stressed that it was also an important hub for global air and maritime transport. Vice Minister Ger then added that Taiwan had demonstrated to the world many times that it was a reliable actor willing to make contributions and provide assistance, making it an indispensable partner in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Vice Minister Ger mentioned that Taiwan had long been excluded from the UN system because of the intentional distortion of UNGA Resolution 2758 by the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the improper linkage between the "one China principle" and the resolution. As a matter of fact, UNGA Resolution 2758 only resolved the issue of the "China" seat in the UN. It made no mention of Taiwan throughout its entire text nor stated that Taiwan was part of the PRC. Moreover, the resolution did not authorize the PRC to represent Taiwan in the UN system and thus had nothing to do with Taiwan. Only the democratically elected government of Taiwan, he said, had the right to represent the Taiwanese people in the UN system and at other international venues.

Vice Minister Ger said that as the erroneous interpretation of UNGA Resolution 2758 had become the primary impediment to Taiwan's efforts concerning international participation, the government's appeals in this year's bid for UN participation would primarily focus on enhancing the international community's correct understanding of UNGA Resolution 2758 and include the following three items:

1. The UN should recognize that the deliberate distortion of UNGA Resolution 2758 has posed a serious threat to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait as well as to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The UN should remain neutral and not abet China's political maneuvers to suppress Taiwan.

2. As UNGA Resolution 2758 does not preclude Taiwan's participation in the UN system, the UN should seek appropriate ways to include Taiwan and facilitate Taiwan's efforts to contribute to the realization of the SDGs.

3. The UN should refrain from citing UNGA Resolution 2758 to inappropriately deny the right of Taiwan passport holders and journalists to visit, attend meetings and activities, and engage in newsgathering at UN premises.

Vice Minister Ger explained that Taiwan's UN campaign this year would remain consistent with the steadfast, pragmatic approach of previous years. The government would, he said, invite diplomatic allies' permanent representatives to the UN to send a joint letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and would request that diplomatic allies speak up for Taiwan during the General Debate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) would also host events and conduct a promotional campaign in New York during the UNGA. He also mentioned that MOFA extended its appreciation to the Legislative Yuan for once again organizing a cross-party delegation of legislators to travel to New York to showcase to the UN community the strong support of the people of Taiwan for the government's bid to participate in the UN.

Concerning Taiwan's bid to attend the ICAO Assembly, Vice Minister Ger stated that MOFA would work with Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) to urge ICAO to invite Taiwan to attend the ICAO assembly as a guest, following the 2013 precedent. Regardless of whether or not an invitation was extended, he said, the government would send an ICAO task force to Montreal to convey Taiwan's appeal to attending delegations in person to seek support. MOFA would also conduct a promotional campaign to explain to other nations the necessity of including Taiwan in ICAO.

Lastly, Vice Minister Ger pointed out that Taiwan was a Taiwan of the world and that MOFA would continue to work for the ideals of integrated diplomacy-with democracy, peace, and prosperity at its core-as it promoted Taiwan's international participation. He also urged the UN to include Taiwan at the earliest possible time so as to fulfil its commitment to leave no one behind and realize such global objectives as advancing sustainable development, aviation safety, human rights protection, peace, and prosperity. (E)