Taiwan said on Friday China’s decision to open new air routes that run close to two Taiwanese-controlled islands was a flight safety risk taken without consultation, and said it would demand any aircraft using them be asked to turn around.
Taiwan’s government expressed anger in January after China “unilaterally” changed a flight path called M503 close to the sensitive median line in the Taiwan Strait. China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory.
China’s civil aviation regulator said in its statement on Friday those routes were now in operation, adding that from May 16 it would “further optimise” airspace around Fuzhou airport.
It did not elaborate, but that is four days before Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te is inaugurated, a man Beijing believes is a dangerous separatist. Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but has been rebuffed.
A senior Taiwan official familiar with the island’s security planning said the flight route announcement was part of a pattern of pre-inauguration pressure from China.
“They want us to cave in, make compromises and change our behaviour,” the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media.
Reminds me of a real estate developer trying to pressure a small homeowner into surrendering their land by encroaching as closely as possible against their borders.
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Reminds me of a real estate developer trying to pressure a small homeowner into surrendering their land by encroaching as closely as possible against their borders.