Pakistan has prohibited Taiwanese carriers from using its airspace to align with its One-China policy, making it the first nation globally to implement this measure, according to Bloomberg reports.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif verified the decision, stating that only airlines originating from mainland China possess permission to navigate Pakistani skies.
Taiwanese Flights Now Rerouted
Flight-tracking information via Flightradar24 indicates that EVA Air and China Airlines stopped operating over Pakistan beginning on the morning of October 25.
At least twelve trips connecting Asia and Europe have used Russian paths instead since that time, resulting in extra fuel expenses and extended travel durations.
Neither airline issued a statement regarding the shift. Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration withheld comments about the adjustments, though it noted that it has never prohibited carriers from using Russian airspace.
Stricter Than China Itself
The restrictions imposed by Pakistan exceed the policies enforced by Beijing, because mainland China permits Taiwanese airlines to cross its territory.
Since the early 1950s, Islamabad has acknowledged Beijing as the exclusive government of China while maintaining no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
This choice highlights strong military and economic ties between the two nations.
Under the Belt and Road Initiative, China has poured massive investments into Pakistan, and Pakistani forces used Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets during the 2025 conflict with India.
Indian airlines have faced an airspace ban in Pakistan since that war, which has reportedly created roughly $2 billion in losses for Indian operators. Authorities prolonged this prohibition until November 24 earlier this month.
