One-China policy: Pakistan bars Taiwan carriers from airspace: report
- Taiwanese carriers began re-routing flights over the weekend, says Bloomberg
In a first-of-its-kind move by any country, Pakistan shut its airspace to carriers from Taiwan in support of Beijing’s One-China policy, 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.”
As per the report, Taiwanese carriers began re-routing flights over the weekend.
Bloomberg, citing Flightradar24 tracking data, shared that China Airlines Ltd. and EVA Airways Corporation haven’t flown over Pakistan since the morning of October 25, and at least a dozen of their flights between Asia and Europe have travelled over Russia since Sunday.
Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration didn’t comment on the re-routing but said it’s never banned carriers from flying over Russia.
Pakistan consistently adheres to the “One-China” policy, viewing Taiwan as an “inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China”. This stance is a fundamental aspect of Pakistan’s foreign policy and its “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” with China.
The South Asian nation has rejected any form of “Taiwan independence” and opposes any attempt to create “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”. Pakistani leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, have reiterated this position.
Pakistan has expressed deep concern about the evolving situation in the Taiwan Strait, noting its serious implications for regional peace and stability, particularly in the context of global crises.
It has also actively supported China’s position regarding Taiwan’s exclusion from international bodies. For instance, Pakistan opposed a proposal to invite Taiwan to the World Health Organization’s annual assembly.