Latest news with #M503
Canada News.Net
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Taiwan accuses China of endangering aviation safety with illegal flight corridor
Taipei [Taiwan], July 8 (ANI): Taiwan plans to ask its diplomatic partners and friendly nations to bring up China's unilateral launch of the W121 flight path at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assembly this September, amid rising tensions, Focus Taiwan reported. According to Focus Taiwan, China announced on Sunday the opening of the northwest-to-southeast W121 route, linking Dongshan in Zhejiang Province to the M503 flight path in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) immediately criticized the move as provocative, warning it undermines aviation safety and regional stability. Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration echoed MAC's concerns, describing the decision as 'regrettable' and vowing to monitor the situation to ensure flight safety. The agency stressed that China's failure to coordinate with Taiwan on such a significant adjustment violates ICAO standards, which mandate prior consultation with affected parties. As per Taipei Times, this is not the first time China has acted unilaterally, citing previous route launches like W122 and W123, which were introduced alongside the eastward shift of the M503 in early 2024. Countries including the United States, Canada, Japan, Sweden, and the Netherlands had previously expressed concern over similar actions by Beijing. Focus Taiwan noted that Taiwan will again leverage the upcoming 42nd ICAO Assembly in Montreal to challenge Beijing's actions and press for greater inclusion in international aviation forums. Despite protests, W122 and W123 remain active, underscoring that diplomatic pressure alone may not be enough to compel Beijing to comply with ICAO norms. Taiwan, which last attended an ICAO assembly in 2013, remains excluded due to pressure from Beijing. The government reiterated its call to be included in ICAO to help safeguard global aviation safety. Taiwanese authorities emphasized that exclusion from ICAO not only marginalizes Taiwan but also undermines global aviation safety by leaving a critical player out of essential coordination. As China continues to bypass established norms, Taipei warned that unchecked unilateral actions could escalate regional instability. Taiwan reaffirmed its commitment to working with international partners to uphold safety, transparency, and rule-based order in the skies. (ANI)
Canada Standard
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Canada Standard
Taiwan accuses China of endangering aviation safety with illegal flight corridor
Taipei [Taiwan], July 8 (ANI): Taiwan plans to ask its diplomatic partners and friendly nations to bring up China's unilateral launch of the W121 flight path at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assembly this September, amid rising tensions, Focus Taiwan reported. According to Focus Taiwan, China announced on Sunday the opening of the northwest-to-southeast W121 route, linking Dongshan in Zhejiang Province to the M503 flight path in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) immediately criticized the move as provocative, warning it undermines aviation safety and regional stability. Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration echoed MAC's concerns, describing the decision as 'regrettable' and vowing to monitor the situation to ensure flight safety. The agency stressed that China's failure to coordinate with Taiwan on such a significant adjustment violates ICAO standards, which mandate prior consultation with affected parties. As per Taipei Times, this is not the first time China has acted unilaterally, citing previous route launches like W122 and W123, which were introduced alongside the eastward shift of the M503 in early 2024. Countries including the United States, Canada, Japan, Sweden, and the Netherlands had previously expressed concern over similar actions by Beijing. Focus Taiwan noted that Taiwan will again leverage the upcoming 42nd ICAO Assembly in Montreal to challenge Beijing's actions and press for greater inclusion in international aviation forums. Despite protests, W122 and W123 remain active, underscoring that diplomatic pressure alone may not be enough to compel Beijing to comply with ICAO norms. Taiwan, which last attended an ICAO assembly in 2013, remains excluded due to pressure from Beijing. The government reiterated its call to be included in ICAO to help safeguard global aviation safety. Taiwanese authorities emphasized that exclusion from ICAO not only marginalizes Taiwan but also undermines global aviation safety by leaving a critical player out of essential coordination. As China continues to bypass established norms, Taipei warned that unchecked unilateral actions could escalate regional instability. Taiwan reaffirmed its commitment to working with international partners to uphold safety, transparency, and rule-based order in the skies. (ANI)
South China Morning Post
08-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Alarms ring in Taipei as Beijing activates another Taiwan Strait flight route
Beijing's sudden activation of another civilian air route near the Taiwan Strait's unofficial median line has renewed alarm in Taipei, with defence experts and lawmakers warning the move could raise the risk of miscalculation in an already tense air corridor. Advertisement The mainland's Civil Aviation Administration activated the last of three branches off the M503 north-south flight path through the strait on Sunday. The M503 and its offshoots were established in 2015 to connect various cities along the mainland's east coast. Two of the branches were activated last year and the third, the W121, on Sunday. At its closest point, the M503 route lies just 4.2 nautical miles (7.8km) from the unofficial line dividing Taiwan and mainland China. The administration, which made the decision without consulting Taipei, said the 'technical adjustment [was meant] to alleviate air traffic pressure and improve safety'. Advertisement 'Previous changes to the route have improved the operation of cross-strait flights and further facilitated personnel exchanges across the Taiwan Strait,' the administration said.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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 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.
Al Arabiya
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
China opens third extension to sensitive Taiwan Strait flight path
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.
