Pakistan bars Taiwanese airlines from its airspace in line with One-China policy: report

Pakistan bars Taiwanese airlines from its airspace in line with One-China policy: report

Pakistan has barred Taiwanese airlines from using its airspace in support of Beijing’s One-China policy, becoming the first country to take such a step, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. “The aviation division follows the One China policy — only mainland China is allowed,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Bloomberg News. “We have permitted only Chinese airlines to fly over Pakistan,” he said. Taiwanese carriers began rerouting flights over the weekend, with China Airlines Ltd and Eva Airways Corp no longer flying over Pakistan since the morning of Oct 25, according to flight-tracking data cited by the report. At least a dozen flights operated by the two airlines between Asia and Europe have flown over Russia since Sunday, according to Flightradar24 data. China Airlines and Eva Air declined to comment, while Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration did not comment on the rerouting. It said, however, that it had never banned carriers from flying over Russia. Pakistan’s restrictions are stricter than those imposed by mainland China, which allows Taiwanese airlines to fly over its territory, the publication added. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory. Pakistan severed official relations with Taiwan in 1951 in favour of closer ties with China. It remains unclear what prompted Pakistan’s decision. Airspace restrictions, however, can intensify during periods of heightened geopolitical tensions, the report said. Pakistan and China have strengthened ties under President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has channelled billions of dollars into Pakistan. The two countries also maintain close military cooperation, with China being Pakistan’s largest supplier of weapons. Their defence ties drew international attention during the May 2025 conflict between Pakistan and India, when Pakistan used Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets. Taiwanese airlines had avoided Russian airspace since February 2022, in line with many Asian, European and North American carriers, although they were never formally barred from using it, the report said. The rerouting has added hours to flights between Asia and Europe and increased fuel costs. China Airlines and Eva Air are also routing aircraft over other parts of South Asia and the Middle East, adding to journey times. Pakistan has repeatedly reaffirmed its support for China on the Taiwan issue. On Jan 3, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad would continue to adhere to the One-China principle and regard Taiwan as an “inalienable part of China”. He described Pakistan and China as “iron-clad friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners”. The statement came after China completed military drills around Taiwan in early January, including live-fire exercises aimed at simulating a blockade of key ports and assaults on maritime targets. Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory, while Taipei rejects the claim.