Pakistan bars Taiwanese airlines from airspace under One-China policy

Pakistan has stopped Taiwanese airlines from crossing its airspace, citing its adherence to Beijing’s One-China policy, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told the news agency that Pakistan’s aviation division follows an approach allowing only mainland Chinese airlines to use the country’s skies. The measure makes Pakistan the first country to impose this restriction, according to the report.

China Airlines and Eva Air began avoiding Pakistani airspace on October 25, with some flights between Asia and Europe redirected through Russia, based on tracking data cited by Bloomberg. The changed routes have lengthened some journeys and raised fuel expenses, while other aircraft have been directed through South Asia and the Middle East. The reason for Pakistan’s decision was not clear in the report; mainland China, by contrast, still permits Taiwanese carriers to cross its airspace.