Pakistan lifted airspace ban on Taiwanese flights temporarily, Taiwan says
Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister suspects Chinese involvement and says permission for the flights will remain in place only until winter ends.
Taiwanese passenger and cargo services regained access to Pakistan’s airspace after a brief closure, according to Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi. He said the reopening was temporary, lasting until the end of winter, and alleged that China may have been involved in the closure.
According to Chen, Pakistani authorities informed China Airlines and EVA Air of the temporary restoration. When AFP sought confirmation, neither carrier would verify whether access had been withdrawn or restored.
The two Taiwan-based carriers generally use Pakistani airspace for services connecting Asia and Europe. Flight-tracking data examined by AFP showed Europe-bound planes had switched to routes across the Gulf to the south or Russia to the north.
Chen said no country had previously shut its airspace to commercial flights from Taiwan. Condemning Pakistan’s action, he argued that such restrictions hinder passenger safety and international supply chains. He also voiced concern that other Global South countries could follow suit.
A separate overflight dispute in April forced Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te to postpone a visit to Eswatini. Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar withdrew permits for his aircraft, a decision Taiwan attributed to pressure from China.
Beijing claims Taiwan as Chinese territory and opposes its engagement abroad. Pakistan has close relations with China but no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Chen said countries with similar outlooks had helped Taiwan address the airspace closure.
