'Direct flights will fly': MEA reacts to Pakistan's airspace ban over 'One-China' policy

India on Wednesday said it was monitoring Pakistan's decision to bar Taiwanese airlines from using its airspace, while indicating that planned non-stop services between India and Taiwan should still be able to operate.

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Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was following the developments but could not immediately assess the impact of the restriction on air links between India and Taiwan. He noted that civil aviation authorities may need to examine the technical details before the government could offer a fuller response.

"My sense is that if there are direct flights, the direct flights will fly between the two destinations," Jaiswal told reporters.

Direct Delhi-Taipei flights unaffected?

This development comes ahead of Taiwanese carrier EVA Air’s planned non-stop Delhi-Taipei service. The airline had announced in August that it would begin operating the route from December 1, with five flights a week.

A Delhi-Taipei flight generally heads east and would not normally require entry into Pakistani airspace. The restriction is more relevant for Taiwanese aircraft flying west towards Europe, although the actual routing of each flight is decided by airlines and aviation regulators.

Pakistan cites One-China policy

Notably, Pakistan has barred Taiwanese airlines from using its airspace. According to Bloomberg News, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the restriction, saying the country’s aviation policy was aligned with Beijing’s One-China principle. He said Pakistani airspace remained open to mainland Chinese airlines but not to carriers from Taiwan. Pakistan maintains diplomatic relations with Beijing and does not recognise Taiwan as a separate country.

The move is unusual because, according to Bloomberg, as even mainland China allows Taiwanese airlines to use its airspace. Pakistan is the first country reported to have explicitly excluded Taiwanese carriers on One-China grounds.

Taiwanese airlines reroute flights

Flight-tracking data cited by Bloomberg showed that China Airlines and EVA Air stopped crossing Pakistani airspace from the morning of October 25.

Since then, at least a dozen flights between Asia and Europe have been rerouted over Russia, while others have used alternative routes through South Asia and the Middle East. Such detours can increase flight time and fuel consumption, particularly on long-haul services.

Pakistan airspace ban on Indian airlines continues

Separately, Pakistan has kept its airspace closed to Indian-registered aircraft and planes operated by Indian airlines since April 2025. The restriction was extended this month until November 24.

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