Taiwan criticizes China for changing flight routes without bilateral consultation

JAKARTA – Taiwan once again strongly condemned the unilateral announcement China regarding implementation changes flight route W122 and W123 without bilateral consultation. This is because it could affect regional aviation safety as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

On January 30 this year, the Civil Aviation Administration of China unilaterally canceled the cross-strait agreement reached in 2015 on three flight routes M503, W122 and W123.

On April 18 2024, it was unilaterally announced that flight routes W122 and W123 would be launched six times in one day. This move not only violates the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), but also has a serious impact on aviation safety in the Asia-Pacific region and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as well as weakening the status quo and the foundation of mutual trust in the Taiwan Strait.

“We strongly condemn China’s irresponsible actions and call on Indonesia and the international community to jointly urge China to immediately hold negotiations with Taiwan regarding this case,” said the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO).

Section 4.2.6 of the ICAO “Air Traffic Services Planning Manual” stipulates that changes to any aviation network must be coordinated with all adjacent aviation information areas.

The “Taiwan Matsu Flight Information Area” borders flight route W122, and the “Taiwan Kinmen Flight Information Area” borders flight route W123 with the closest point being only 1.1 miles away.

However, China announced the changes to the aviation network without first consulting the Civil Aviation Administration of Taiwan, which is the sole authority responsible for the “Taiwan Aviation Information Region”. This is a serious violation of ICAO regulations and underscores China’s irresponsible authoritarian nature.

Taiwan and Indonesia have close cooperation and exchanges. Currently, there are around 400,000 Indonesian citizens living, studying and working in Taiwan. Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is closely related to Indonesia’s main economic and trade interests as well as the protection of Indonesian citizens.

China’s unilateral announcement regarding changes and opening of flight routes is considered to violate ICAO regulations and will damage peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region as well as public security.

The Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Indonesia calls on Indonesian industry, government, academia, research and media to take this seriously and jointly urge China to negotiate with Taiwan to manage potential aviation risks.

(acres)