Taiwanese reporters have been refused entry to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) forum that is set to open in Montreal on Tuesday. That’s after the organization failed to invite a delegation from Taiwan to attend this year’s forum.
A Toronto-based reporter from Taiwan’s state-run Central News Agency (CNA) was refused entry. He was told that even though he holds a Canadian passport, he was refused entry because CNA is a Taiwanese media outfit. The reporter was told instead that he could access information about the forum from the ICAO news department.
Beijing has requested that ICAO require reporters to present a valid passport from Canada or other countries participating in the conference. However, the notice did not say that Taiwanese media personnel would be refused entry.
It is widely believed that Taiwan did not receive an invitation this year because Beijing is unhappy with the new administration under President Tsai Ing-wen. Taiwan has participated previously in the forum as an observer.