24 September,2016 09:19 AM IST | | Agencies
Taiwan said yesterday China had blocked it from attending a major United Nations aviation meeting, the latest setback to its troubled campaign for international recognition. Beijing hit back at the criticism, saying the island had “no right” to be invited
Taiwan's Foreign Minister David Lee who raised the issue
Taiwan's Foreign Minister David Lee who raised the issue
Taipei: Taiwan said yesterday China had blocked it from attending a major United Nations aviation meeting, the latest setback to its troubled campaign for international recognition. Beijing hit back at the criticism, saying the island had "no right" to be invited.
Self-ruling Taiwan is routinely prevented from attending global forums by Beijing, which sees it as part of its territory requiring reunification.
But the island had been hoping to attend the triennial meeting of the UN aviation agency in Montreal later this month, after it was admitted in 2013 in a major breakthrough.
That invite came under previous Beijing-friendly president Ma Ying-jeou. But ties with China have rapidly turned frosty under new leader Tsai Ing-wen.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), which handles relations with Beijing, said Friday the island had not been admitted to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) meeting "due to political interference from China".
Beijing said, "The ICAO is a special agency of the UN, and only sovereign countries can take part in it," adding, "Taiwan is part of China, so it has no right to participate."
