China Power | Diplomacy | East Asia

Pakistan’s Abrupt (and Aborted) Revocation of Taiwan’s Overflight Privileges

Pakistan announced that Taiwanese airlines would not be allowed to fly over the country, before abruptly rescinding the change. Is this a new strategy from Beijing?

Late last month, Pakistan announced that Taiwanese airlines such as China Airlines and EVA Air would not be allowed to fly over the country. This took place after an announcement by Minister of Defense Khawaja Asif, whose responsibilities also entail overflight privileges. Asif claimed that the ban was on the basis of Pakistan’s One China policy. 

It was the first time that a country had revoked overflight privileges for Taiwanese airlines on the basis of a claimed One China policy. Previously, EVA Air and China Airlines – which, despite its name, is Taiwan’s national carrier, not to be confused with the Chinese flag carrier Air China – had been cleared for overflight privileges by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority from October 28 of this year through March 27, 2027.

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Late last month, Pakistan announced that Taiwanese airlines such as China Airlines and EVA Air would not be allowed to fly over the country. This took place after an announcement by Minister of Defense Khawaja Asif, whose responsibilities also entail overflight privileges. Asif claimed that the ban was on the basis of Pakistan’s One China policy. 

It was the first time that a country had revoked overflight privileges for Taiwanese airlines on the basis of a claimed One China policy. Previously, EVA Air........

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