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EP members concerned by China’s unilateral alterations to flight routes

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed sincere gratitude for a joint letter dated March 13 from members of the European Parliament addressing Salvatore Sciacchitano, president of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s council, and high-ranking European Union officials.

According to the MOFA, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, vice president of the EP and vice chair of  its committee on transport and tourism, along with 27 other MEPs wrote to Sciacchitano; Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission; Charles Michel, president of the European Council; and Josep Borrell, high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, to express their unease over China’s unilateral changes to flight paths M503, W122 and W123.

The joint message pointed out that the timing of China’s action exposes its deliberate nature, and further characterized the move as dangerous to both regional stability and air travelers in Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen and Matsu areas due to the complexity of air traffic control following the alteration of flight routes. Oetjen and his fellow MEPs warned that aviation infrastructure was being used as a tool to exert geopolitical pressure.

The letter further urged the ICAO to closely monitor developments in the area and demanded that all involved respect air traffic control regulations. Signatories come from four major parties, demonstrating the EP’s high regard for cross-strait peace and stability.

As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan can be relied on to cooperate with the EP and other like-minded partners to safeguard global prosperity and transit safety. (POC-E)

Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw

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