ISLAMABAD: Pakistan closes airspace for all Taiwan-based airlines.
According to the sources, In a significant move that underscores its strong bilateral ties with Beijing, Pakistan has announced the complete closure of its airspace to all Taiwan-based airlines, thereby reaffirming its unwavering support for the One China Policy.
The decision was confirmed on Wednesday by Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif.
Speaking to ‘Bloomberg News’, Asif stated that the nation’s Aviation Division is strictly adhering to the One China Policy.
Under this directive, Pakistan will only recognize flights from mainland China. Consequently, Pakistani authorities have granted permission solely to Chinese airlines to operate overflights within Pakistan’s territory.
Tracking data from ‘FlightRadar24’ reveals that this policy change has immediately impacted operational routes. Prominent Taiwanese carriers, including China Airlines Limited and EVA Airways Corporation, began rerouting their flights last weekend.
As of the morning of October 25, both airlines have completely ceased utilizing Pakistan’s crucial airspace for their intercontinental journeys.
Since Sunday, at least a dozen of their flights operating between Asia and Europe have diverted to fly over Russia instead.
Both China Airlines and EVA Airways have declined to comment on the matter, and Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued an immediate response.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Taiwan, while not commenting specifically on the reroutes, noted that they never restricted their airlines from flying over Russia.
While many other global carriers have avoided Russian airspace following the Ukraine conflict, Taiwanese airlines have now pivoted to this route to maintain operations, albeit with increased flight times.
Industry analysts have pointed out that Pakistan’s current restriction on Taiwanese airlines is actually stricter than the policy maintained by mainland China itself, as China allows Taiwanese carriers to use its airspace.
Taiwan-based airlines have historically depended heavily on the Pakistani corridor for their routes between Asia and Europe.
To illustrate the scale, data shows that on October 24, as many as 14 flights from these two airlines utilized Pakistan’s skies.
The compulsory rerouting forces flights to take much longer, more circuitous paths via South Asia, the Middle East, or Russia, adding several hours to the total flight duration.
This significant change in flight paths and the corresponding additional distance is expected to result in a dramatic increase in jet fuel consumption, dealing a substantial economic blow to Taiwan’s airlines due to Pakistan’s adherence to the One China Policy.
The Taiwan Dispute
The Taiwan dispute stems from complex historical and political factors, primarily the cross-strait political differences.
Mainland China views Taiwan as a part of its territory that must be reunited, while Taiwan maintains a distinct government and identity.
This ongoing situation has significant geopolitical implications, with various nations following either the ‘One China Policy’ or the ‘One China Principle’.
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The ambiguity and competing claims create a delicate balance of relations, frequently leading to political and diplomatic tensions on the international stage.
