TAIWAN
Pakistan briefly closed its airspace to Taiwanese cargo and passenger flights, Taiwan said on Thursday, suspecting China of being behind the unprecedented move.
“We suspect definitely China was behind this,” Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi told media after confirming that Pakistan had closed and reopened its airspace to Taiwanese airlines.
China Airlines and EVA Air, which are both based in Taiwan, normally fly over Pakistan on their Asia-Europe route. Some Taiwanese flights have resumed flying over Pakistan, according to the latest data.
“China Airlines and EVA received a notice from the Pakistan authorities that they will lift the ban, but only temporarily… till the end of the winter,” Chen said.
“We condemn Pakistan, and if China is behind this, I think that is a very bad practice to use its leverage over the countries in the Global South to do that,” Chen said. “I think that gets in the way of the safety of the passengers and the smooth operation of the global supply chain.”
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Bloomberg News on Wednesday that the airspace was closed in adherence with Beijing’s “One China policy.” China’s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters on Thursday that “as far as we are aware, there are no obstacles for residents of the Taiwan region to travel internationally.”
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes the self-governed island’s participation in international organizations and exchanges with other countries. Chen said it was the first time a country had closed its airspace to Taiwanese commercial flights.
In April, the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked overflight permits for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s flight to Eswatini, Taipei’s only African ally, forcing him to postpone the trip.
