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Beijing’s changes to civil flight path near Taiwan Strait median line likely to ‘squeeze’ island’s air defence capacity
- Beijing says it will scrap ‘offset measure’ for southbound M503 flight route from Thursday, in decision taken without talks with Taipei
- Removal of six nautical mile offset risks loss of air defence depth and response time for Taiwan in case of cross-strait attack, analysts warn
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Lawrence Chungin Taipei
Beijing has adjusted civil aviation routes near the sensitive median line in the Taiwan Strait, a move expected to further “squeeze” the air space controlled by Taipei.
The changes, taking effect on Thursday, were announced without consultation with Taiwan.
Analysts warned that the move would not only drastically cut the depth of air defence for Taiwan, but also reduce the response time available to the island’s air force in case of a cross-strait attack.
In a brief statement late on Tuesday, Beijing’s Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said it was cancelling an “offset measure” for southbound operations of the M503 flight route.
The route is just west of the strait median line – a notional midway point between self-governed Taiwan and mainland China.
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The CAAC said it would also start eastbound operations of two side routes – W122 and W123 – which connect M503 with the cities of Fuzhou and Xiamen in Fujian province. All of the affected routes are within the Shanghai Flight Information Region.
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