Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the restriction to Bloomberg News, saying Pakistan’s aviation division follows the One-China policy and permits only mainland Chinese airlines to use its airspace.
“The aviation division follows the One China policy only mainland China is allowed,” Asif said. “We have permitted only Chinese airlines to fly over Pakistan.”
China Airlines and Eva Air Reroute Flights
Taiwanese carriers began changing their flight routes over the weekend. According to flight-tracking data cited by Bloomberg, China Airlines Ltd and Eva Airways Corp have not flown over Pakistan since the morning of October 25.
Data from Flightradar24 showed that the two airlines had operated at least a dozen Asia-Europe flights over Russia since Sunday.
China Airlines and Eva Air declined to comment on the restrictions. Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration also did not comment on the rerouting, but said it had never prohibited carriers from flying through Russian airspace.
The restrictions imposed by Pakistan are stricter than those imposed by mainland China, which allows Taiwanese airlines to fly over its territory, the report said.
The reason behind Pakistan’s decision remains unclear. Airspace restrictions can become more common during periods of heightened geopolitical tensions.
Rerouting Increases Flight Times and Fuel Costs
Taiwanese airlines have avoided Russian airspace since February 2022, following the approach taken by many Asian, European and North American carriers. However, they were never formally prohibited from using it.
The new routes have added hours to some Asia-Europe flights and increased fuel costs. China Airlines and Eva Air are also using routes over other parts of South Asia and the Middle East, further extending journey times.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, while Taipei rejects the claim.
Pakistan severed official relations with Taiwan in 1951 in favour of closer ties with China.
Pakistan Reaffirms Support for One-China Principle
Islamabad has repeatedly reaffirmed its position on Taiwan. On January 3, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan would continue to adhere to the One-China principle and regard Taiwan as an “inalienable part of China”.
He also described Pakistan and China as “iron-clad friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners”.
The statement followed Chinese military drills around Taiwan in early January. The exercises included live-fire activities simulating a blockade of key ports and attacks on maritime targets.
Pakistan-China Strategic and Defence Ties
Pakistan and China have strengthened their relationship through the Belt and Road Initiative, led by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which has channelled billions of dollars into Pakistan.
The two countries also maintain close military cooperation, with China serving as Pakistan’s largest arms supplier.
Their defence partnership drew international attention during the conflict between Pakistan and India in May 2025, when Pakistan used Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets.
Pakistan’s latest airspace restriction underscores its continued support for Beijing’s position on Taiwan, although the specific reason for the decision has not been publicly explained.
