Bloomberg reported that Pakistan, in support of a one-China policy, has refused Taiwanese airlines access to its airspace, making it the first country in the world to take such a measure. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 28 strongly condemned Pakistan for following China, disregarding international reality, seriously denigrating Taiwan's sovereignty with distorted claims, and politicizing and weaponizing airspace.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Bloomberg that aviation follows a one-China policy and that only mainland Chinese airlines are permitted to fly over Pakistani airspace. In an evening reply to Central News Agency questions, the foreign ministry issued its strongest rebuttal and condemnation of those remarks and restated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country that has never been subordinate to the People's Republic of China.
The ministry said it will maintain close contact with the competent authority, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and respect Taiwanese civil aviation operators' planning of the most efficient routes based on flight safety, flight time and cost considerations.