China new flight routes evoke angry response from Taiwan
Tensions are once again rising between China and Taiwan. Beijing has recently expanded civil aviation routes over the Taiwan Strait. But the government in Taipei is now making its objections heard, arguing that the "irresponsible" move threatens regional security.
Last week, China opened several flight paths in the strait, including a northbound M503 route, to ease increased traffic on existing air routes.
The move, however, prompted the self-ruled island of Taiwan to strongly protest and demand immediate negotiations with Beijing. Taipei complained that Beijing had not consulted the government over the move.
In a more recent reaction, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has said that the move "not only seriously affects aviation safety, but also damages the current situation in the Taiwan Strait.”
"This kind of unilateral changing of the situation, this practice that harms regional stability, is not something that will be viewed favorably by the international community," Tsai said in a statement released after a government meeting on Sunday.
China, which considers Taiwan as part of its territory, announced the new routes last Thursday, calling on aircraft to "strictly follow the announced flight path."
The mainland’s Civil Aviation Administration announced that commercial aircraft could immediately begin flying south to north through the M503 air corridor, and using three connecting regional corridors.
The administration also said that it would continue “technical communications with the Taiwanese side.”
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has, however, threatened to intercept, warn and repel, if necessary, any planes that cross into Taiwanese airspace.
Mainland Affairs Council Minister Katharine Chang has also warned China that “it must shoulder all serious consequences that might affect cross-strait relations.”
The new routes are close to Taiwan’s military exercise zones.
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