Taipei Blasts Beijing Over New Taiwan Strait Flight Path

TaiwanPlus News

China has launched a controversial new civilian flight path near Taiwan, saying the route will reduce air traffic congestion. But Taiwan warns the move could further escalate tensions in the region.

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00:00China continues to ramp up pressure on Taiwan at sea and in the air.

00:05On Sunday, it announced a new feeder route for one of its flight paths in the Taiwan Strait,

00:10one that authorities in Taiwan are sounding the alarm over.

00:19Beijing says the purpose of the new route is to ease air traffic congestion in the region

00:24and reduce flight delays, and that it benefits both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

00:28But Taipei has long raised concerns about the location of the path

00:32and it's expressed strong regrets over the new routes.

00:36The M503 air route was drawn out by China in early 2015.

00:41It sits on the western side of the median line in the straits,

00:44putting it very close to Taiwan-sensitive airspace.

00:47Last April, China opened two eastbound feeder routes despite protests from Taiwan.

00:52Some experts say the latest move to activate the W121 raises security risks in the region.

00:58This is not the first time China has moved ahead with its plans on M503 without consulting Taiwan.

01:24In 2018, it ignored a previous cross-strait agreement to activate part of the flight route.

01:31And in addition to the two new feeder routes last year,

01:34it also moved the main path closer to the median line in the Taiwan Strait.

01:39Taiwan is getting ready to hold its largest military drills of the year,

01:42the Hong Kong exercise.

01:44And with Beijing's latest move,

01:46the country's governments and armed forces could be on even higher alerts in the days ahead.

01:51Klein Wang and Ellen Liu for Taiwan Plus.

01:54Klein Wang and Ellen Liu for Taiwan Plus.

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