Pakistan Bans Taiwanese Airlines From Airspace — SkimNews
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- Pakistan barred Taiwanese airlines from its airspace on October 25, enforcing a strict interpretation of the One-China policy that even Beijing does not apply, as Chinese airspace remains open to Taiwanese carriers.
- Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s defence minister, confirmed the ban in a Bloomberg interview, stating only mainland Chinese airlines are permitted to fly over Pakistan under the aviation division’s policy.
- China Airlines Ltd and EVA Airways Corp have rerouted flights between Asia and Europe over Russia since October 25, according to Flightradar24 data, adding time and fuel costs amid already elevated crude prices above $115 a barrel.
- Pakistan became the first country to impose such an airspace restriction on Taiwan, going further than China itself in aligning with Beijing’s territorial claims, underscoring the depth of its 'iron-clad' strategic partnership with China.
- Taiwanese airlines had previously avoided Russian airspace since February 2022 due to safety concerns after the Ukraine invasion, making the Pakistan-induced rerouting a significant operational setback despite ongoing conflict risks.
Why it matters: Pakistan’s move imposes direct financial and logistical costs on Taiwanese carriers, with longer routes increasing fuel use and journey times at a time of high oil prices. By acting more strictly than China on Taiwan airspace, Islamabad strengthens its geopolitical alignment with Beijing, potentially pressuring other nations to follow suit in limiting Taiwan’s international mobility.
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