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Pakistan Restores Overflight Rights to Two Taiwanese Airlines — AI-generated representative image: A commercial airliner in flight over distant terrain, illustrating international airspace and overflight routes.

Editorial Team

Islamabad reissues permits to China Airlines and EVA Air after a One-China policy dispute disrupted Taiwan aviation routes.

Pakistan has restored overflight rights to two Taiwanese airlines days after they stopped using its airspace, according to reports from AP, Bloomberg and Dawn. On Wednesday, Islamabad issued permits allowing Taiwan-based China Airlines and EVA Air to fly through Pakistani airspace until March 27, 2027, the outlets reported citing official documents.

The reversal comes after Taiwanese carriers began rerouting flights to avoid Pakistani airspace on October 25, prompting condemnation from Taipei. The episode highlights how Islamabad's firm adherence to Beijing's One-China policy can directly affect international commercial aviation and strain Taiwan-Europe travel routes.

Key Developments

Pakistan issued overflight permits to China Airlines and EVA Air on Wednesday, valid through March 27, 2027.
Taiwanese airlines began rerouting flights to avoid Pakistani airspace on October 25, according to flight-tracking data.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif defended the earlier restrictions, citing Islamabad's One-China policy.
Taipei condemned Islamabad for undermining Taiwan's sovereignty and "politicizing and weaponizing airspace," according to Taiwanese media.
Several Taiwan-Europe flights were rerouted through Russia following the restrictions.

Background and Policy Context

Most countries, including the United States and Russia, do not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent state. Beijing considers the self-governing island part of China and seeks reunification, preferably through peaceful means, but has not ruled out the use of force. Washington and several Western governments maintain unofficial ties with Taiwan and supply it with weapons, drawing condemnation from China.

China and Pakistan maintain close political and military ties, describing their relationship as an "all-weather strategic cooperative partnership." China is Pakistan's principal arms supplier, and Islamabad has consistently supported Beijing's position on Taiwan. Pakistan's restrictions reportedly went further than Beijing's own rules, which permit some Taiwanese airline operations in mainland Chinese airspace.

Official Statements and Evidence

"The aviation division follows the One-China policy, only mainland China is allowed," Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Bloomberg, adding, "We have permitted only Chinese airlines to fly over Pakistan."

According to Bloomberg, no country had previously imposed a blanket overflight ban on Taiwanese commercial airlines. In April, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar withdrew overflight clearances for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's aircraft, forcing him to postpone a visit to Eswatini. Lai eventually made the trip in May. Taiwanese airlines had also largely avoided Russian airspace after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, although neither Moscow nor Taipei formally prohibited them from using it.

What Lies Ahead

With the permits now issued, China Airlines and EVA Air are authorized to use Pakistani airspace until March 27, 2027. It remains unclear whether the earlier restrictions will have lasting effects on routing decisions or on broader diplomatic relations between Taipei and Islamabad.