Pakistan has barred Taiwanese airlines from using its airspace in line with Beijing’s One-China policy, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, becoming the first country to take such a step.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the restriction to Bloomberg News. “The aviation division follows the One China policy, only mainland China is allowed,” he said. “We have permitted only Chinese airlines to fly over Pakistan.”
Taiwan airlines airspace ban: the rerouting
Taiwanese carriers began rerouting flights over the weekend. China Airlines Ltd and EVA Airways Corp have not flown over Pakistan since the morning of October 25, according to flight-tracking data cited in 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. That shift carries a twist. Taiwanese carriers have generally avoided Russian airspace since February 2022, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, although they were never formally barred from using it.
China Airlines and EVA Air declined to comment on the rerouting. Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration did not comment on the rerouting either, but it said it had never banned its carriers from flying over Russia.
The longer routes will add flying time and fuel costs. Asia-Europe services already run long, and passengers may feel the effect in schedules first, and in fares later, if the restriction stays in place.
Stricter than Beijing’s own rules
Pakistan’s restrictions are stricter than those imposed by mainland China, Bloomberg noted. Mainland China allows Taiwanese airlines to fly over its territory, while Pakistan now does not.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory. Pakistan severed official relations with Taiwan in 1951 in favour of closer ties with China, and it has backed Beijing’s position on Taiwan ever since.
It remains unclear what prompted Pakistan’s decision at this moment. Airspace restrictions can tighten during periods of heightened geopolitical tension, the report said, but no specific trigger has been named.
The move fits a wider pattern of close Pakistan-China ties. The two countries have strengthened their relationship under President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has channelled billions of dollars into Pakistan. They also maintain close military cooperation, with China standing as Pakistan’s largest supplier of weapons.
Those defence ties drew international attention during the May 2025 conflict between Pakistan and India, when Pakistan used Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets. The airspace decision now adds an aviation dimension to a partnership that already covers trade, infrastructure and arms.
Why the decision stands out
No other country has barred Taiwanese airlines from its airspace on the basis of the One-China policy, according to the report. Other states that recognise Beijing as China’s sole government have not gone this far in aviation.
That makes Pakistan’s step a test case. If other countries follow, Taiwanese carriers could face a patchwork of closed skies on Asia-Europe routes. If Pakistan stands alone, the cost will fall mainly on the two Taiwanese airlines and their passengers, while Pakistan’s own airlines face no matching restriction.
For readers in Pakistan, the story also connects to recent aviation disruption closer to home. Typhoon Champi shut down Taiwan and cancelled nearly 1,000 flights, while Tropical Storm Champi neared China after hitting Taiwan. On the China front, China suspended La Liga broadcasts after a remark by Kylian Mbappe, and Trump’s China visit was postponed amid the Iran war.
What happens next
The key questions are duration and reaction. How long will Pakistan keep the restriction, and will Beijing comment on a step taken in its name? Will Taipei press the matter through aviation channels, or treat it as a routing problem to manage quietly?
If China Airlines and EVA Air keep flying over Russia, that will confirm the new pattern.
For now, the facts are clear: Pakistan has closed its skies to Taiwanese carriers, its defence minister has confirmed it, and the rerouting has already begun.
Frequently asked questions
Which airlines are affected by Pakistan’s airspace restriction?
China Airlines and EVA Air, Taiwan’s two main carriers, which have stopped flying over Pakistan since the morning of October 25.
What did Khawaja Asif say?
He told Bloomberg News that Pakistan’s aviation division follows the One-China policy and that only mainland Chinese airlines are permitted to fly over Pakistan.
