Latest news with #CivilAviationAuthorityofChina


The Sun
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
China opens third extension to sensitive Taiwan Strait flight path
HONG KONG: China said on Sunday it has opened a third extension of the M503 flight route, which is just west of an unofficial dividing line in the Taiwan Strait, with Taipei protesting this was a 'unilateral' move aimed at changing the strait's status quo. China last year moved the M503 route closer to the median line, drawing a similarly angry response from Taipei, which says any changes to the flight route and its extensions must be communicated in advance and agreed by both sides. The opening of the W121 extension comes days before the annual Han Kuang military and civil defence drills that Taiwan holds to simulate a Chinese blockade and invasion of the democratic island. The median line had for years served as an unofficial barrier between Chinese-claimed Taiwan and China, but China says it does not recognise its existence and Chinese warplanes now regularly fly over it as Beijing seeks to pressure Taipei to accept its sovereignty claims. The Civil Aviation Authority of China said that 'in order to further optimize the airspace environment and improve operational efficiency, from now on, civil aviation will use the W121 connection line of the M503 route.' Taiwan's China policy-making Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement to Reuters that mainland China 'used unilateral actions to change the status quo and increase cross-strait and regional unrest.' This is the third extension after W122 and W123, which are to the south of W121, opened last year. All three go west to east, from mainland China in the direction of Taiwan. This measure is aimed at 'ensuring flight safety, reducing flight delays, and protecting the rights and interests of passengers,' China's Taiwan Affairs Office said. It added that the opening was 'beneficial' to both sides of the strait. Taipei disputed the explanation as 'unjustified', saying 'the number of international air travellers on the mainland has not yet recovered' to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. Taiwan, facing ramped-up military pressure from China, which considers the separately governed island as its own, begins its Han Kuang exercises on July 9 and they are set to last for 10 days.

Nikkei Asia
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
China opens third extension to sensitive Taiwan Strait flight path
HONG KONG (Reuters) -- China said on Sunday it has opened a third extension of the M503 flight route, which is just west of an unofficial dividing line in the Taiwan Strait, with Taipei protesting this was a "unilateral" move aimed at changing the strait's status quo. China last year moved the M503 route closer to the median line, drawing a similarly angry response from Taipei, which says any changes to the flight route and its extensions must be communicated in advance and agreed by both sides. The opening of the W121 extension comes days before the annual Han Kuang military and civil defense drills that Taiwan holds to simulate a Chinese blockade and invasion of the democratic island. The median line had for years served as an unofficial barrier between Chinese-claimed Taiwan and China, but China says it does not recognize its existence and Chinese warplanes now regularly fly over it as Beijing seeks to pressure Taipei to accept its sovereignty claims. The Civil Aviation Authority of China said that "in order to further optimize the airspace environment and improve operational efficiency, from now on, civil aviation will use the W121 connection line of the M503 route." Taiwan's China policy-making Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement to Reuters that mainland China "used unilateral actions to change the status quo and increase cross-strait and regional unrest." This is the third extension after W122 and W123, which are to the south of W121, opened last year. All three go west to east, from mainland China in the direction of Taiwan. This measure is aimed at "ensuring flight safety, reducing flight delays, and protecting the rights and interests of passengers," China's Taiwan Affairs Office said. It added that the opening was "beneficial" to both sides of the strait. Taipei disputed the explanation as "unjustified", saying "the number of international air travelers on the mainland has not yet recovered" to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. Taiwan, facing ramped-up military pressure from China, which considers the separately governed island as its own, begins its Han Kuang exercises on July 9 and they are set to last for 10 days.


AsiaOne
06-07-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
China opens third extension to sensitive Taiwan Strait flight path, China News
HONG KONG - China said on Sunday (July 6) it has opened a third extension of the M503 flight route, which is just west of an unofficial dividing line in the Taiwan Strait, with Taipei protesting this was a "unilateral" move aimed at changing the strait's status quo. China last year moved the M503 route closer to the median line, drawing a similarly angry response from Taipei, which says any changes to the flight route and its extensions must be communicated in advance and agreed by both sides. The opening of the W121 extension comes days before the annual Han Kuang military and civil defence drills that Taiwan holds to simulate a Chinese blockade and invasion of the democratic island. The median line had for years served as an unofficial barrier between Chinese-claimed Taiwan and China, but China says it does not recognise its existence and Chinese warplanes now regularly fly over it as Beijing seeks to pressure Taipei to accept its sovereignty claims. The Civil Aviation Authority of China said that "in order to further optimize the airspace environment and improve operational efficiency, from now on, civil aviation will use the W121 connection line of the M503 route." Taiwan's China policy-making Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement to Reuters that mainland China "used unilateral actions to change the status quo and increase cross-strait and regional unrest." This is the third extension after W122 and W123, which are to the south of W121, opened last year. All three go west to east, from mainland China in the direction of Taiwan. [[nid:718637]] This measure is aimed at "ensuring flight safety, reducing flight delays, and protecting the rights and interests of passengers," China's Taiwan Affairs Office said. It added that the opening was "beneficial" to both sides of the strait. Taipei disputed the explanation as "unjustified", saying "the number of international air travellers on the mainland has not yet recovered" to pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels. Taiwan, facing ramped-up military pressure from China, which considers the separately governed island as its own, begins its Han Kuang exercises on July 9 and they are set to last for 10 days.

Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
China opens third extension to sensitive Taiwan Strait flight path
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox HONG KONG - China's civil aviation authority said on Sunday it has opened a third extension of the M503 flight route, which has for years been the subject of complaints from Taipei due to its position just west of an unofficial dividing line in the Taiwan Strait. China last year moved the M503 route closer to the median line, drawing an angry response from Taipei, which said Beijing was trying to "package" civil aviation for political or military considerations to potentially change the strait's status quo. The opening of the W121 extension comes days before the annual Han Kuang military and civil defence drills that Taiwan holds to simulate a Chinese blockade and invasion of the democratic island. The median line had for years served as an unofficial barrier between Chinese-claimed Taiwan and China, but China says it does not recognise its existence and Chinese warplanes now regularly fly over it as Beijing seeks to pressure Taipei to accept its sovereignty claims. The Civil Aviation Authority of China said that "in order to further optimize the airspace environment and improve operational efficiency, from now on, civil aviation will use the W121 connection line of the M503 route." Taiwan's China policy-making Mainland Affairs Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This is the third extension after W122 and W123, which are to the south of W121, opened last year. All three go west to east, from mainland China in the direction of Taiwan. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore First BTO project in Sembawang North to be offered in July launch Singapore TTSH to demolish century-old pavilion wards, keeping one as heritage marker World 'Formed to give you back your freedom': Elon Musk says he has created a new US political party Singapore Tank collides into traffic light during NDP preview show Singapore His world crashed when he got F9 in O-level Tamil but PropNex co-founder Ismail Gafoor beat the odds Asia HIV surge in the Philippines amid poor sex education, policy gaps Tech Graduates are not screwed if they study engineering: James Dyson in response to Economist article Business When a foreign wife failed to turn up for a $10m divorce "This measure is aimed at "ensuring flight safety, reducing flight delays, and protecting the rights and interests of passengers," China's Taiwan Affairs Office said. It added that the opening was "beneficial" to both sides of the strait. Taiwan, which is facing ramped-up military pressure from China, which considers the separately governed island as its own, begins its Han Kuang exercises on July 9 and they are set to last for 10 days. REUTERS


Business Recorder
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Boeing plane lands back in China for delivery as tariff war eases
SEOUL: A new Boeing 737 MAX landed back in China on Monday, flight tracking data showed, a sign the US planemaker was resuming deliveries to Chinese customers as Beijing and Washington ease their tariff war. Boeing, which halted deliveries of new planes to China in April as the world's two largest economies ramped up tariffs on each other, said at the end of May deliveries would resume in June after the tariffs were temporarily scaled back for 90 days. The plane, painted in the livery of Xiamen Airlines, landed at Boeing's Zhoushan completion centre near China's commercial hub of Shanghai, after leaving Seattle on Saturday, and halting to refuel in Hawaii and Guam as it crossed the Pacific. Data from tracking app Flightradar24 shows Boeing had originally ferried the craft to Zhoushan in March, before its return to the United States in mid-April, when Chinese airlines stopped taking new Boeing aircraft. Boeing, Xiamen Airlines and regulator the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) did not immediately respond to requests for comment. China represents about 10% of Boeing's commercial backlog and is an important and growing aviation market. Representatives of China and the United States will meet in London on Monday to discuss a trade deal. US accepts Boeing jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One At least three 737 MAX jets were repatriated by Boeing to the United States in April from Zhoushan, where they were to receive final touches before delivery to Chinese carriers. The first to return was the same one that landed on Monday. Boeing has previously said customers in China would not take delivery of new planes due to tariffs, and it was looking to resell potentially dozens of aircraft. However the planemaker had not sent the planes elsewhere, despite wanting to cut inventory. Beijing has not commented on why Boeing deliveries stopped, but said Chinese airlines and Boeing had been severely affected by US-imposed tariffs. In April, Boeing said it had planned for 50 jets to go to Chinese carriers during the rest of the year, with 41 in production or pre-built.