The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) has expressed strong opposition to four new flight routes China intends to implement from March 5. The CAA said on Wednesday that the decision might threaten flight safety in Taiwan and damage cross-strait trust.
China’s unilateral announcement of four new commercial flight routes in southeast China could potentially affect flights between Taiwan and its outlying islands. CAA Director-General Jean Shen said the new routes are unacceptable.
“Route M503 is too close to the Taipei Flight Information Region and could compromise our national security," said Shen. "We are afraid our military aircraft might stray into these new airspaces, especially the three east-west routes, if there are thunderstorms or other weather situations.”
Route M503 is too close to the key air transport hub in the West Pacific, and three other routes could affect flights between Taiwan and the outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu. According to the CAA, the shortest distance between Route M503 and the center line of the Taiwan Strait is just 7.8 kilometers.