Taiwan suspects China may have influenced Pakistan’s decision to temporarily restrict Taiwanese airlines from using its airspace, following an earlier attempt to block Taiwan’s president from flying to Africa, a Taiwanese official has said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said Pakistan’s move was not the first time airspace restrictions had been used against Taiwan. He made the remarks in an interview with Bloomberg TV.

Chen said President Lai Ching-te’s planned state visit to Eswatini had been disrupted several months ago after Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles denied overflight permission to his aircraft.

He suggested that China could have used its influence over Pakistan to restrict Taiwan’s access to airspace, describing the development as a threat to freedom of flight. However, he did not present evidence linking Beijing to Pakistan’s decision.

China’s Foreign Ministry had not immediately responded to a request for comment.

Taiwanese airlines China Airlines and EVA Air stopped flying through Pakistani airspace on October 25, forcing them to reroute flights between Asia and Europe.

Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority subsequently restored permission for both carriers to use its airspace until late March 2027. The first Taiwanese commercial flight crossed Pakistani airspace again on Thursday morning.

Taiwan has said it will work with the United States and other countries on the issue.

Pakistan’s initial restriction came amid Islamabad’s close relationship with Beijing. Taiwan’s latest remarks raise questions about whether geopolitical considerations played a role in the decision, although the alleged Chinese involvement remains unverified.