Pakistan has reversed its decision to bar Taiwanese airlines from its airspace, restoring overflight rights to two major carriers within hours of announcing restrictions in support of China’s One-China policy.

According to documents dated October 28 cited by Bloomberg, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority has allowed China Airlines Ltd and EVA Airways Corp to use its airspace from October 28 to March 27, 2027. The reason for the reversal remains unclear.

The move came shortly after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who also oversees aviation, told Bloomberg that Pakistan restricted access under its One-China policy. “We have permitted only Chinese airlines to fly over Pakistan,” Asif said, according to Bloomberg.

The initial ban made Pakistan the first reported country to block Taiwanese carriers from its airspace in support of Beijing’s position on Taiwan.

The restriction had already forced the airlines to change their flight routes. Bloomberg reported that Flightradar24 data showed China Airlines and EVA Air had stopped flying over Pakistan from October 25. At least a dozen flights between Asia and Europe took longer routes over Russia and other parts of South Asia and the Middle East.

Both airlines declined to comment to Bloomberg, while Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration did not comment on the rerouting.

Taiwanese airlines have largely avoided Russian airspace since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, despite not facing a formal ban. Longer routes can increase fuel consumption, journey times and operating costs.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory, while Taiwan rejects Beijing’s claim and governs itself. Beijing has used diplomatic and economic pressure to discourage countries from treating Taiwan as an independent state.

Other measures affecting Taiwan include Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoking overflight permission for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te in April 2026, forcing him to postpone a visit to Eswatini. Somalia stopped accepting Taiwanese passports in April 2025, while Kenya denied Taiwanese scholars access to a pre-conference event in June 2026.

Pakistan and China maintain close military, economic and diplomatic ties through their “all-weather” strategic partnership. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, has channelled billions of dollars into Pakistani infrastructure projects.

Pakistan severed official relations with Taiwan in 1951 in favour of Beijing. However, China’s airspace remains open to Taiwanese airlines, making Pakistan’s brief restriction an unusual step. Islamabad’s swift reversal has left questions about the reasoning behind its initial decision.