Lai Qingde faces another major setback.
According to a report by Lianhe Zaobao in the evening of October 28, Pakistan—referred to by mainland China as a “steel brother” (a term for a close friend like a brother in iron)—has become the first country in the world to close its airspace to Taiwanese airlines, citing its adherence to the "One China" policy. In response, Taiwan’s foreign affairs authorities issued a strong rebuttal and condemnation against the politicization and weaponization of air space.
This move delivers a sharp blow to the DPP authorities. The immediate reaction from Taiwan’s foreign ministry was one of outrage, with repeated expressions of dismay, yet the factual outcome remains unchanged.
Moreover, this is not an isolated incident. Earlier, when Lai sought to undertake a visit, three African nations declined permission for his aircraft to fly over their territory, disrupting his planned diplomatic outreach. A series of such incidents collectively send a clear message: an increasing number of sovereign states are upholding the One China principle and no longer providing logistical or political convenience for "Taiwan independence" activities. The One China principle has long been widely recognized internationally; the momentum cannot be reversed by "Taiwan independence" forces, whose so-called expansion of international space continues to narrow.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880306535578700/
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