ISLAMABAD, 28 OCT (DNA) — 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. — DNA
