Taiwanese officials recently confirmed a brief but unusual disruption that saw Pakistan close its airspace to the nation’s commercial flights. While the restriction was temporary, Taipei has voiced strong suspicions that Beijing played a role in the decision. Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi noted that the timing and nature of the move strongly suggest political interference from China, marking an unprecedented hurdle for Taiwanese aviation.

Major carriers like China Airlines and EVA Air typically rely on Pakistani airspace for their standard routes between Asia and Europe. Flight tracking data from the past weekend revealed that both airlines were forced to deviate from their usual flight paths, rerouting further south over the Gulf or north across Russia to bypass the restricted zones. Although neither airline has officially addressed the details of the incident, the sudden detour highlights the ongoing geopolitical complexities affecting international travel corridors in the region.