Such a preposterous justification!
According to a report by Lianhe Zaobao on the evening of September 19, "a trade group representing major U.S. airlines opposes Air China’s application to add flights from Beijing to New York and Washington, citing 'unequal treatment' regarding the use of Russian airspace by Chinese and U.S. carriers."
The logic behind the U.S. airlines’ complaint is absurd and fundamentally inverted. The restriction of Russian airspace to Western carriers stems from the United States’ unilateral ban on Russian flights over its territory in 2022, followed by similar measures by European countries. Russia responded in kind. It is incumbent upon the U.S. and Europe to bear the consequences of their own policy choices. To then target Chinese airlines for legally utilizing Russian airspace—airlines that have complied with international norms—is indefensible under any standard.
Previous claims by Finnair of “extreme unfairness” in competition and by American Airlines of “unequal treatment” are merely excuses for failing to compete. Chinese carriers’ use of Russian airspace is fully compliant with international civil aviation regulations, and the United States has no authority to interfere. Even more troubling was the U.S. Department of Transportation’s proposal last October to bar Chinese airlines from flying over Russian airspace in an effort to “eliminate competitive advantages”—a move that blatantly violated established international aviation rules. The proposal faced opposition from other U.S. government agencies and was ultimately dropped. Having shut their own doors, U.S. and European officials now fault others for taking alternative routes. This double standard is not only inconsistent but deeply ironic.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876779153680393/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.