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- Earlier, Pakistani defense minister was quoted by Bloomberg News as saying that aviation authorities had permitted 'only Chinese airlines to fly over Pakistan'
UPDATES WITH REVERSAL; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE
By Aamir Latif and Saadet Gokce
ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL (AA) - Pakistan restored overflight rights to Taiwanese airlines after banning them from using its airspace in line with its One-China policy, local newspaper Dawn reported Wednesday.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority authorized China Airlines Ltd. and EVA Airways Corp. to use the country's airspace from Oct. 28 to March 27, 2027, according to documents seen by Dawn on Wednesday.
Bloomberg earlier reported that Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Bloomberg News that aviation authorities had followed "the One China policy — only mainland China is allowed."
He had said that Islamabad only allowed airlines from the People’s Republic of China to fly over Pakistan, excluding Taiwan.
According to flight-tracking data, Taiwanese carriers began rerouting flights over the weekend, with China Airlines Ltd. and EVA Airways Corp. no longer flying over Pakistan since Sunday.
The two carriers declined to comment to Bloomberg, while Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration did not address the rerouting.
Islamabad's restrictions are even stricter than those imposed by China, which allows Taiwanese airlines to fly over its territory.
Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province, while Taipei insists on its independence.
Pakistan severed official relations with Taiwan in 1951 in support of the One-China policy.
Islamabad and Beijing have bolstered ties under Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which has channeled billions of dollars into Pakistan.
China is also Pakistan’s largest supplier of weapons and launched the China-Pakistan Information Corridor on Tuesday.
Saadet Gökce,Amir Latif Arain
