1944年，52個國家在芝加哥簽署「國際民航公約」成立「國際民航組織」（ICAO），總部設於加拿大蒙特婁，旨在發展國際飛航的原則與技術，並促進國際航空運輸的規畫和發展。
我國為ICAO創始會員國之一，1971年退出後即被排除於ICAO體系之外，然而我國仍積極配合國際民航公約相關規定，並透過與友好國家之雙邊合作等間接管道取得資訊等，設法與國際飛航體系接軌，在所管轄的「臺北飛航情報區」（Taipei Flight Information Region, Taipei FIR）內致力維護飛航安全。
Taipei FIR空域鄰接福岡、馬尼拉、香港及上海四個飛航情報區，位於日本、菲律賓之間，臨接中國大陸東南沿海，2019年提供逾185萬航管架次服務，往返或經停臺灣旅客近7,210萬人次，是東亞航空運輸網絡不可或缺之一環。
2013年我應ICAO理事會主席的邀請，出席ICAO第38屆大會。接納臺灣參與ICAO可進一步強化在區域上有效管理民航事務的能力，並保障國人及全球旅客的飛航權益及安全。
2016年及2019年我雖未獲邀出席ICAO第39及第40屆大會，但國際間支持台灣參與ICAO以達致「無縫天空」（seamless sky）目標之聲援力道強勁，並為我國未來推動參與ICAO案累積相當動能。推案期間，友邦及友我國家行政部門紛紛為我致函或進洽ICAO方面，表達正面支持及我參與之訴求，其等立法部門並以通過友我決議、聲明、新聞稿及社群媒體等方式，爭取外界共同支持我案。另美、日政府於獲悉我未獲邀後，亦重申支持我有意義參與ICAO之立場，2019年美、加、英、法、德、義、日的外長在4月的「七大工業國集團」(G7)外長會議公報中更是正面呼應我案的訴求，明確主張ICAO應接納所有國際飛航社群積極成員參與。國際各界輿論則對ICAO未邀我，導致難以落實其所謂之「不應遺漏任何國家」(no country left behind)目標，籲請ICAO儘速採取適當行動納我參與。
我參與ICAO大會，為整體爭取專業、務實、有貢獻參與ICAO過程的一環，我將續在目前進展的基礎上，循序漸進，持續累積各方共識，努力爭取參與ICAO項下會議、活動及機制，以期與國際飛航體系全面緊密接軌，協助ICAO落實全球無縫天空的目標。
In 1944, 52 nations gathered in the US city of Chicago to sign the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which established the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The organization is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, and is tasked with developing the principles governing global aviation as well as facilitating the planning and development of international air transport.
The ROC was also a founding member of ICAO, but lost its representation in 1971. Nevertheless, the ROC continues to abide by the convention and obtain information on ICAO decisions from friendly member countries and other indirect channels. This allows Taiwan to bring its laws in line with ICAO regulations and better ensures aviation safety in the Taipei Flight Information Region（Taipei, FIR）.
The Taipei FIR abuts the Fukuoka, Manila, Hong Kong, and Shanghai flight information regions. The Taipei FIR, standing between Japan and the Philippines and running along mainland China’s southeast coast, provided more than 1.85 million navigation services to aircraft carrying more than 72.1 million passengers in 2019. The Taipei FIR forms an indispensible part of the East Asia aviation network.
In 2013, the President of ICAO Council invited Taiwan to attend the 38th Session of the ICAO Assembly. The inclusion of Taiwan in the ICAO would help improve management of civil aviation in the Asia-Pacific region and ensure the safety of all passengers.
Although Taiwan was not invited to the 39th Session and 40th of the ICAO Assembly in 2016 and 2019, we have received unprecedented international support for our participation to contribute to ICAO’s “seamless sky.” Administrative branches of our diplomatic allies and friendly countries sent letters of support or requested ICAO to adopt Taiwan’s professional participation, while members from the legislative branches passed resolutions, issued statements, published news releases, and posted on social networks to muster support for Taiwan. Upon knowing Taiwan was not invited to the Assembly, the U.S. and Japanese governments also expreseed publicly that they would like to see Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the ICAO.In April 2019, the foreign ministers of G7 nations—the United States, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy—issued a first-ever joint communique supporting Taiwan's case. Furthermore, it is widely belived that not inviting Taiwan can cause difficulties for ICAO to achieve its goal of “no country left behind,” and ICAO has to seek ways to include Taiwan as soon as possible.
Taiwan’s participation in the ICAO Assembly is but one step in its bid for professional, pragmatic and constructive participation in ICAO. Building on the foundation that has been laid, the ROC will continue to generate international consensus as it seeks broader participation in the organization’s meetings, activities, and mechanisms. The aim is for Taiwan to fully integrate into the global aviation network and do its part to help achieve ICAO’s goal of a seamless sky.
MOFA reiterates that Taiwan is an active and responsible member of the international civil aviation community, and that it therefore should not be prevented from taking part in ICAO so as to obtain complete and critical information pertaining to aviation safety and security in a timely manner. As a global and professional civil aviation organization, ICAO should remain neutral, refrain from political machinations, and refuse to act on political pressure brought to bear on it by any individual country. It should include Taiwan as soon as possible in the global aviation safety system, so as to realize its goals of a seamless sky and uniting aviation.