Resolution Supporting Taiwan's Meaningful Participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Exposed

The Resolution Supporting Taiwan's Meaningful Participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was adopted by ALEC's International Relations Task Force on August 5, 2010, approved by the ALEC Board of Directors September 19, 2010. ALEC has attempted to distance itself from this piece of legislation after the launch of ALECexposed.org in 2011, but it has done nothing to get it repealed in the states where it previously pushed for it to be made into law.

CMD's Bill Summary

From its 1998 resolution in support of "Fast Track" Trade Promotion Authority, which was used to push a permanent normal trading relationship with China through Congress in 2000 with little discussion or debate, to more recent resolutions in support of the proposed Colombia, Panama and Korea Free Trade Agreements, ALEC has consistently urged its members to support a radical "free trade" agenda. This free trade agenda has cost America millions of jobs as factories closed and moved overseas in search of cheaper labor. Since 2001, an estimated 2.4 million American jobs have been lost to China alone. Now a diverse array of service sector jobs, from accounting and tax preparation to health care and credit card servicing are being off-shored under these agreements. Such free trade agreements also allow public health, consumer, environmental and worker safety rules to be challenged as "barriers to trade" in trade tribunals that operate outside the constraints of U.S. law.

ALEC has also been a major promoter of the U.S. tobacco industry, which seeks to hook new generations of smokers on their products around the world. Reynolds Tobacco was the corporate co-chair of the International Relations Task Force of ALEC. ALEC has a trade resolution specifically targeting the European Union ban on Snus, a moist tobacco product often marketed to the young with fruit flavors. Reynolds produces Camel Snus in four flavors and is not happy that this dangerous product is banned in most of Europe. Note that ALEC maintains a list of "International Delegates," which are elected government officials around the world.

ALEC Resolution Text

WHEREAS, Taiwan, with a population of 23 million, has worked tirelessly to improve cross-Strait relations since President Ma Ying-Jeou came to power in 2008; and

WHEREAS, the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan have recently completed negotiations of an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) resulting from closer cross-Strait ties; and

WHEREAS, the UN's stated purpose is "To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples... [and] to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic ... character ... [and] to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends; and

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization (WHO) invited Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) to attend the 62nd World Health Assembly in April 2009 as an observer, setting a precedent for UN specialized agencies of recognition of Taiwan as an entity; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan's absence from UN specialized agencies, like the ICAO, has had adverse effects on Taiwan's development and is inconsistent with Chapter 1 of the UN Charter's stated Purposes and Principles; and

WHEREAS, aviation safety is a global issue that requires all members of the global community to take part in the ICAO in order to best serve the interests of every passenger; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport is a key air transport hub in the Asia Pacific region, with the Taipei Flight Information Region (Taipei FIR) ranked the world's 15th largest by cargo volume in 2008; and

WHEREAS, 360,000 Americans traveled to Taiwan for business and leisure during 2009, making aviation safety in Taiwan a priority for Americans' safety and best interests; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan makes meaningful contributions to the world community through foreign aid and its position as a major transport hub both of which could be facilitated by an ability to work within UN frameworks; and

WHEREAS, the Inclusion of Taiwan in ICAO is consistent with the ICAO's stated purpose of ensuring that "international civil aviation can be developed in a safe and orderly manner and that international air transport services may be established on the basis of equality of opportunity and operated soundly and economically";

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that ALEC supports Taiwan's Meaningful Participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that ALEC urges the State Department to make appropriate arrangements to facilitate Taiwan's participation in ICAO's meetings, mechanisms, and activities, for the purposes of international aviation safety and security; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States, to the Secretary of State of the United States, to the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, to the U.S. Ambassador to the ICAO, to the U.S. Trade Representative and to the Secretary of Transportation.