Pakistan has prohibited Taiwanese commercial airlines from using its airspace to enforce the One-China policy, local media reports indicated on Tuesday.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the decision. The aviation division follows the One China policy, and only mainland China is allowed, he stated.
Islamabad now permits solely airlines registered under the People’s Republic of China to fly across Pakistani territory. Taiwanese carriers are explicitly excluded.
Flight tracking records showed that Taiwanese operators began altering their flight paths over the weekend. Major carriers such as China Airlines and Eva Airways stopped using Pakistani airspace on Sunday.
Representatives for both China Airlines and Eva Airways declined to comment on the routing changes. Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration also refrained from addressing the new restrictions.
The directives enforced by Islamabad are stricter than regulations implemented by Beijing. China actually permits Taiwanese commercial aircraft to fly directly over its mainland territory.
Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province. Taipei maintains its political independence.
Pakistan cut off official diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1951 to show support for the One-China policy. In recent decades, Islamabad and Beijing have strengthened bilateral relations.
The two nations have expanded cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This mega-project has directed billions of dollars in infrastructure investments into Pakistan.
China is the primary supplier of military weaponry to Pakistan. On Tuesday, both nations expanded cooperation by launching the China-Pakistan Information Corridor.
