Pakistan has barred Taiwanese airlines from its airspace in support of Beijing's One-China policy, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in an interview with Bloomberg News. The move makes Pakistan the first country to take such a step against Taiwan, and it goes further than China's own practice, since Beijing still permits Taiwanese carriers to fly over Chinese territory.
Asif left no ambiguity about the reasoning. The aviation division follows the One-China policy, he told Bloomberg, adding that only mainland China is allowed and that Pakistan has permitted only Chinese airlines to fly over its territory.
According to India Today's report, flight-tracking data shows that Taiwan's two major carriers, China Airlines and EVA Air, have not crossed Pakistani airspace since the morning of October 25, 2026. The restriction has forced the airlines to reroute flights between Asia and Europe, adding time and cost to long-haul journeys.
Pakistan goes further than Beijing itself
The measure is striking because China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has not imposed a comparable ban on Taiwanese airlines in its own skies. Taiwan, which governs itself, rejects Beijing's sovereignty claim and sees itself as an independent nation.
The Express Tribune reported that Pakistan is the first country to take such a step, making Islamabad's gesture more restrictive than the policy maintained by mainland China itself. Pakistan severed official relations with Taiwan in 1951 in favour of closer ties with Beijing, and the latest decision deepens what Chinese officials call an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership.
China is Pakistan's largest lender, with Islamabad owing it more than 25 billion dollars. The relationship has been reinforced by President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative, which has channelled billions into Pakistani infrastructure. Chinese officials have referred to Pakistan as an iron-clad friend.
Taiwanese carriers forced onto longer routes
The ban has disrupted established flight paths connecting Asia with Europe. According to Bloomberg data cited by India Today, at least a dozen flights operated by China Airlines and EVA Air have taken the longer route over Russia since Sunday, October 25, based on Flightradar24 tracking.
The detour is significant because Taiwanese airlines have largely avoided Russian airspace since February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. They joined numerous Asian, European and North American carriers in rerouting flights over concerns that flying over an active conflict zone could expose aircraft to missile and air defence threats.
Neither airline nor Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration had issued an official response at the time of reporting. The carriers 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 dollars a barrel. Longer routes increase fuel consumption and operating expenses, adding to the financial burden on airlines already adjusting to a difficult operating environment.
What this means for Eswatini and the region
The decision carries weight beyond aviation. Beijing has long pressed governments to accept its position that Taiwan is part of China, and Islamabad's restriction adds a practical dimension to that diplomatic campaign by affecting the movement of Taiwanese commercial aircraft.
African nations have faced similar pressure. In April 2026, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked overflight permission for Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, forcing him to postpone a visit to Eswatini. Somalia stopped accepting Taiwanese passports from April 30, 2025, and in June 2026, Kenya denied Taiwanese scholars access to a pre-conference event in Mombasa, citing its One-China position.
Pakistan's measure is distinct from those restrictions, which concerned entry, exit and physical transit through airports rather than overflight of sovereign airspace. It represents a new and more aggressive form of compliance with Beijing's demands.
For Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic relations with Taipei, the episode is a reminder of the pressure small states face as China works to isolate Taiwan internationally. The Kingdom has held to its position while others have yielded, and the experience of President Lai's postponed visit shows how quickly third countries can be drawn into a dispute that is not theirs.
Beijing's campaign has now moved from passports and conference badges to commercial aviation. Whether other states follow Pakistan's example, and at what cost to their own sovereignty of decision, remains to be seen.
Frequently asked questions
Which Taiwanese airlines are affected by Pakistan's airspace ban?
China Airlines and EVA Air, Taiwan's two major carriers, have not flown over Pakistani airspace since the morning of October 25, 2026, according to flight-tracking data cited by India Today.
Does China itself ban Taiwanese airlines from its airspace?
No. Beijing permits Taiwanese carriers to fly over Chinese territory, which means Pakistan's restriction goes further than China's own policy.
Why did the ban force Taiwanese flights over Russia?
Taiwanese airlines have avoided Russian airspace since February 2022 over conflict-zone safety concerns, but the Pakistani closure left them with few alternatives for Asia-Europe routes, pushing at least a dozen flights onto longer paths.