Beijing welcomes ‘correct position’ on Taiwan by UN civil aviation body
- China’s foreign minister Qin Gang urged continued support of the one-China policy during meeting with ICAO chief in the Chinese capital
- China opposes participation by Taipei in the organisation’s events, which Washington supports
During a meeting with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) secretary general Juan Carlos Salazar in Beijing on Tuesday, Qin Gang stressed that the issue of Taiwan participating in the body “must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle.”
“China appreciates the ICAO’s correct position on Taiwan-related issues and hopes the ICAO will continue to give China firm support,” Qin said, according to state news agency Xinhua, adding that the Taiwan question was at the heart of China’s core interests and Beijing has been “consistent and clear” on its stance.
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The meeting came months after the United States passed a bill promising to support the island’s participation in the organisation’s events, including a failed attempt to have Taiwan allowed to participate in an ICAO assembly.
In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution which undertook to recognize the representatives of the government of People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations. Countries that have diplomatic ties with Beijing, including the US, acknowledge the existence of the one-China principle that holds Taiwan be part of China, but may not explicitly agree with it.