Pakistan has barred Taiwanese airlines from its airspace, showing its support for the One-China policy. Khawaja Asif, Pakistan's defence minister, made the revelation while speaking to Bloomberg.

However, even Beijing allows Taiwanese carriers to operate in Chinese airspace.Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Shari-led government has closed its airspace for Taiwan. Pakistan has shut its airspace to Taiwanese airlines in an unprecedented move to support Beijing's One-China policy, extending its diplomatic backing for China into the world of international aviation.

The restriction has forced Taiwan's two major carriers to reroute flights between Asia and Europe, adding to the time and cost of long-haul journeys.Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the decision in an interview with Bloomberg News on Wednesday. "The aviation division follows the One China policy — only mainland China is allowed," Asif told Bloomberg. "We have permitted only Chinese airlines to fly over Pakistan."Pakistan is the first country to take such a step against Taiwan. Bloomberg cited the flight-tracking data to show that Taiwan's China Airlines Ltd and EVA Airways Corp have not flown over Pakistani airspace since the morning of October 25.

Notably, even China has not imposed similar restrictions on Taiwanese airlines, putting Islamabad a step ahead of Beijing in its actions against Taipei.The decision comes as Beijing continues to press other countries to support its position that Taiwan is part of China, a claim rejected by Taipei, which sees itself as an independent nation. It also underscores the close "iron-clad friendship" between Pakistan and China.

Islamabad, however, has also been cultivating closer ties with the US, which has long supported Taiwan's defence against China's growing military and diplomatic pressure. AFTER PAK BAN, TAIWANESE AIRLINES REROUTE FLIGHTSThe restrictions have disrupted established flight paths used by Taiwanese airlines connecting Asia with Europe.

According to Bloomberg, at least a dozen flights operated by China Airlines and EVA Air between the two regions have taken the longer route over Russia since Sunday, October 25, based on Flightradar24 tracking data.However, no official response has been issued from the two airlines and Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration, as of the time of filing this copy. Bloomberg reported that it had requested a comment from China's foreign ministry as well.

Taiwanese airlines have largely avoided Russian airspace since February 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They joined numerous Asian, European and North American carriers in rerouting flights amid concerns that flying over an active conflict zone could expose aircraft to threats from missiles and air defence systems.

The availability of alternative routes has therefore become an important consideration for airlines operating long-distance services.Pakistan's restrictions are also expected to put additional pressure on operating costs and journey times as carriers adjust their routes. Bloomberg reported that China Airlines and EVA Air have also been routing aircraft over other parts of South Asia and the Middle East.The disruption comes amid elevated fuel costs, with benchmark crude prices hovering above $115 a barrel at the time of this report.

Longer routes can increase fuel consumption and operating expenses, adding to the financial burden on airlines.WHY PAKISTAN'S TAIWAN DECISION MATTERS TO CHINABeijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has long sought to limit the island's international recognition and diplomatic engagement. Taiwan, which governs itself, rejects Beijing's claim to sovereignty over it.China has increasingly used diplomatic and economic pressure to discourage governments from treating Taiwan as a separate political entity.

The airspace restriction by Islamabad now adds a practical dimension to that effort by affecting the movement of Taiwanese commercial aircraft.Three African nations — Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar — revoked overflight permission for Taiwan President Lai Ching-te in April 2026, forcing him to postpone a visit to Eswatini. Earlier, Somalia stopped accepting Taiwanese passports from April 30, 2025.

In June 2026, Kenya also denied Taiwanese scholars access to a pre-conference event in Mombasa, citing its One-China position.The reported Pakistani measure is distinct from Somalia and Kenya's restrictions on Taiwanese passports and travel documents. That directive concerned entry, exit and physical transit through Somali airports.

It was not a ban on Taiwanese aircraft flying over Somali airspace.PAKISTAN AND CHINA'S GROWING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPPakistan and China have built a close economic and military partnership, reinforced by Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative, which has channelled billions of dollars into infrastructure and other projects in Pakistan.China is Pakistan's largest lender, with Pakistan owing it more than $25 billion. The two countries call their relationship as an "all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership", and Chinese officials have also referred to Pakistan as an "iron-clad friend".Pakistan severed official relations with Taiwan in 1951 in favour of closer ties with Beijing.

Its latest airspace decision goes further than the policy maintained by mainland China itself, which permits Taiwanese airlines to fly over Chinese territory.- Ends(Written by Avinash Kateel)