Pakistan’s airspace U-turn: Bans Taiwanese airlines in support of 'One-China' policy, then reverses decision

According to documents dated October 28 cited by Bloomberg, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority has permitted China Airlines Ltd and EVA Airways Corp, widely known as EVA Air, to fly through Pakistani airspace between October 28 and March 27, 2027.

Bloomberg reported the development, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The decision marked a swift turnaround after Asif, who also oversees aviation, told Bloomberg that Pakistan’s aviation division followed the One-China policy and allowed only mainland Chinese airlines to use its airspace.

“We have permitted only Chinese airlines to fly over Pakistan,” Asif said, according to Bloomberg.

Pakistan’s initial move had made it the first country reported to have barred Taiwanese carriers from its airspace in support of Beijing’s position on Taiwan.

However, the subsequent approval for the two airlines reversed that restriction within hours.

Islamabad has not publicly clarified why it changed its position.

Taiwanese airlines had already rerouted flights

The short-lived restriction had disrupted established flight routes used by Taiwanese airlines travelling between Asia and Europe.

Bloomberg reported that flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed China Airlines and EVA Air had stopped flying over Pakistan from the morning of October 25.

At least a dozen flights operated by the two carriers between Asia and Europe had taken longer routes over Russia since Sunday, October 25, the report said.

The airlines had also rerouted aircraft through other parts of South Asia and the Middle East.

China Airlines and EVA Air declined to comment to Bloomberg, while Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration did not respond to questions about the rerouting.

Taiwanese carriers have generally avoided Russian airspace since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Several Asian, European and North American airlines have adopted similar practices amid concerns about the risks associated with operating over a conflict zone.

Although Taiwanese airlines were not formally barred from Russian airspace, avoiding those routes has become part of their broader operational approach since the invasion.

Pakistan’s restriction threatened to add further complications to their flight planning.

Longer routes can increase journey times, fuel consumption and crew costs, putting additional pressure on airlines’ operating expenses.

The restoration of overflight permission could allow the two carriers to resume using Pakistani airspace during the period covered by the documents.

Why Pakistan’s decision matters to China

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes actions that could suggest the island is an independent state.

Taiwan, which operates under its own government, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claim.

Beijing has used diplomatic and economic pressure to discourage governments from treating Taiwan as a separate political entity.

Pakistan’s initial restriction appeared to extend that position into commercial aviation, potentially affecting Taiwanese carriers’ access to important routes linking Asia and Europe.

Other countries have also taken measures affecting Taiwan’s international engagement.

In April 2026, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked overflight permission for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, forcing him to postpone a planned visit to Eswatini.

Somalia stopped accepting Taiwanese passports from April 30, 2025.

In June 2026, Kenya denied Taiwanese scholars access to a pre-conference event in Mombasa, citing its One-China position.

These measures differed from Pakistan’s initial decision, which directly affected Taiwanese commercial airlines seeking to use the country’s airspace.

Islamabad’s subsequent reversal means China Airlines and EVA Air have received permission to fly through Pakistani airspace for the period specified in the documents.

The available information does not establish why the Pakistani authorities initially imposed the restriction or what prompted them to withdraw it.

Pakistan, China maintain close strategic partnership

Pakistan and China share close economic, military and diplomatic ties, reinforced by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The corridor has channelled billions of dollars into infrastructure and other projects in Pakistan, forming a central component of the countries’ economic relationship.

Both governments describe their ties as an “all-weather” strategic partnership.

Chinese officials have also frequently referred to Pakistan as an “iron-clad friend”.

Pakistan severed official relations with Taiwan in 1951 in favour of closer ties with Beijing.

Its initial airspace restriction appeared to take its support for China’s One-China policy further in aviation practice, given that Chinese airspace remains open to Taiwanese airlines.

The reversal has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Islamabad’s original decision and its subsequent restoration of overflight rights.

Although Pakistan’s initial announcement was presented as an expression of its alignment with Beijing’s position on Taiwan, the rapid change has left the reasoning behind both decisions unclear.