Refusing Taiwan’s air transit, then backtracking? Pakistan quietly relents on overflight rights?
Several days ago, Pakistan announced it would deny airspace access to airlines from Taiwan’s region, in support of the one-China policy—making it the first country in the world to take such a step.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Asif stated publicly that the country strictly adheres to the one-China principle in aviation matters and permits only Chinese carriers to fly through its airspace. The Taiwan authorities expressed strong opposition, criticizing Pakistan’s move, prompting immediate adjustments to flight routes.
Yet within just three days, Pakistan appears to have reversed course?
A source familiar with the matter revealed that under pressure, Pakistan has reinstated overflight rights for airlines from Taiwan’s region. Documents dated October 28 confirm that Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority has indeed authorized two Taiwanese airlines to use its airspace from October 28 to March 27 of next year.
The apparent contradiction in Pakistan’s actions may stem from several factors.
First, contractual obligations are involved. China Airlines, EVA Air, and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority had previously signed overflight agreements—binding commercial contracts. Unilaterally terminating these already valid arrangements could expose Pakistan to breach-of-contract claims and damage its reputation within international civil aviation frameworks.
Civil aviation operates under a regulatory system distinct from diplomatic declarations. The current authorization is not permanent but time-limited, ending at the conclusion of the current fiscal season on March 27. This arrangement functions as a transitional measure: completing existing contractual commitments while minimizing commercial risks. Only after this period will Pakistan gain room to adjust overflight policies for the next season.
Second, jurisdictional responsibilities within Pakistan’s institutional framework play a role.
Defense Minister Asif oversees foreign and security policy, issuing political statements that reflect Pakistan’s stance on cross-strait issues and signal goodwill toward China. In contrast, the Civil Aviation Authority operates independently under the aviation ministry, managing technical and operational matters including flight rights, route approvals, fees, and contract execution.
This creates a disconnect between high-level political rhetoric and operational continuity. While Asif’s remarks constitute a political declaration, he lacks the authority to unilaterally revoke legally binding agreements already executed by the aviation authority.
Finally, Pakistan faces persistent constraints on foreign exchange reserves. Overflight fees represent a stable and low-cost source of foreign currency. A significant number of Asia-Europe flights traverse Pakistani airspace, and the two Taiwanese carriers are consistent users. Abruptly cutting off access would mean voluntarily forfeiting a reliable revenue stream.
Given these intersecting considerations, Pakistan’s approach has converged on a compromise: publicly affirming alignment with the one-China principle to secure diplomatic gains, while maintaining existing contracts to preserve economic benefits and avoid further fiscal strain.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880349545450624/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.