Pakistan has restored Taiwanese airlines airspace access for China Airlines and EVA Air, ending a brief ban that kept the carriers out of Pakistani skies from October 25. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates civil aviation in Pakistan, renewed both airlines’ permits on October 28; the fresh approvals run to March 27, 2027. Islamabad has not publicly explained why the restriction was imposed or why it was reversed.
While the ban was in force, the two airlines diverted Europe-bound flights around Pakistan through Russian and Indian airspace. That detour mainly meant extra fuel and flying time rather than a collapse of their networks. Taiwanese airlines airspace access is again available for the current winter schedule window used by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global body that coordinates airline seasons; a Taiwanese transport ministry official said the carriers would seek fresh approval for the summer season.
Why the ban was linked to China policy
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the earlier decision followed Pakistan’s one-China policy—Islamabad’s long-standing recognition of Beijing as representing China—and that only mainland Chinese carriers were being allowed through at that time. Pakistan recognised the People’s Republic of China in 1950 and opened diplomatic relations in 1951, and remains one of Beijing’s closest partners, including through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a large package of infrastructure projects. The government told parliament this month that 45 of 95 CPEC projects, valued at $50.33 billion, had been completed, while 35 others worth $23.11 billion, including the Main Line-1 railway, were still in planning.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, asked about the airlines, said that as far as Beijing was aware there were no obstacles for residents of the Taiwan region to travel internationally—an answer framed around passengers rather than carrier overflight rights.
Taipei’s reaction and temporary permits
Taipei responded sharply. On October 29, Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee said Taiwan deeply regretted Pakistan’s behaviour, including what she called pandering to China by compromising flight safety, and accused Islamabad of “politicizing and weaponizing airspace.” She also said Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other.
Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said Taipei believed China was behind the ban. He told interviewers the airlines had been informed the restrictions would be lifted “but only temporarily … until the end of the winter,” and warned that overflight rights could be used against Taiwan and might spread as a practice to other Global South countries. Whether embarrassment, diplomacy, or another factor prompted Pakistan’s U-turn is not known; officials have not said.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- October 25: China Airlines and EVA Air stop flying over Pakistan; Europe-bound flights are sent via Russian and Indian airspace.
- October 28: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif links the restriction to the one-China policy; the same day, the CAA renews both airlines’ permits through March 27, 2027.
- October 29: Taiwan’s Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee condemns the ban as politicising airspace and compromising flight safety.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan ne Taiwan ki do airlines—China Airlines aur EVA Air—ko apni hawa mein se guzarne ki ijazat wapas de di hai. Ye ban 25 October se shuru hua tha aur jald khatam ho gaya. Ab un ke permits March 2027 tak chalenge. Aam musafiron ke liye seedha matlab ye hai ke ye Europe wali flights ab Pakistan ke air routes se guzar sakti hain, lekin Islamabad ne abhi tak ban ya us ke uthne ki wajah nahi batayi.
