Less than 24 hours after banning Taiwanese airlines from flying through Pakistan’s airspace, the country’s Civil Aviation Authority reversed its decision. Pakistan originally closed its airspace to Taiwanese planes on Oct. 28, then reversed the decision less than a day later. The Pakistani government has been accused of “weaponising airspace” by Taiwan.
Pakistan Bans Taiwanese Planes From Its Airspace
Pakistan became the first country in the world to issue a blanket ban specifically targeting Taiwanese airlines when it barred them from flying through Pakistani airspace. The decision was made in support of Beijing’s “One China” policy.
The “One China” policy is a diplomatic acknowledgement of China’s political position that only one Chinese government exists: the People’s Republic of China in Beijing. It also stipulates that under it, a country does not maintain any official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, though many have informal relations through trade and unofficial bodies.
Pakistan’s Khawaja Asif, the current Defence Minister, justified the decision as consistent with Pakistan’s commitment to the “One China” policy. He said:
“The aviation division follows the One China policy – only mainland China is allowed. We have permitted only Chinese airlines to fly over Pakistan.”
Pakistan was one of the first countries to establish relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1951 and has since maintained a strong relationship. Unlike other countries that maintain some level of informal ties with Taiwan, Pakistan has consistently and strongly opposed Taiwanese independence.
Still, this brief ban marked the first instance of a country closing its airspace to Taiwan due to the “One China” policy. The People’s Republic of China permits Taiwanese airlines to use its airspace.
Ban Overturned in Surprising Decision Reversal
While Pakistan’s brief ban on Taiwanese airlines surprised many aviation authorities, including the Taiwanese government, the decision’s reversal came as an even bigger shock. Less than 24 hours after the ban was reported, the Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) granted permission for Taiwan’s EVA Airways Corp. and China Airlines Ltd. to use Pakistani airspace until March 27, 2027.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry quickly condemned the original decision, saying Pakistan was using aviation access as a political tool. It stated that it strongly refuted Pakistan’s decisions and “distorted narratives” which were led by China and ignored the existing international realities.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said it strongly suspected China was behind the decision.
AirNav radar data shows that flights from Taiwan last week were rerouted through Russia and India to avoid Pakistan’s airspace. This delayed flights by adding significant distance to routes between East Asia and Europe.
This incident follows a similar issue in April, when three African nations revoked permission for Taiwanese planes when President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan was due to visit Eswatini, Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa. Mauritius, Madagascar, and the Seychelles briefly barred Taiwanese planes, forcing the trip to be postponed.
At the time, Taiwan blamed intense pressure from China for the revocation. They stated they believed it was part of a wider plan to forcefully isolate Taiwan from its international allies.
What do you think of this dramatic decision reversal from Pakistan? Let us know in the comments below.
