In light of China’s military drills, airlines are advised to avoid Taiwan airspace

The People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command of China declared on August 2 that the nation would carry out a series of military drills involving live fire from August 4 to August 6 close to Taiwan’s territorial seas in retaliation for US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan yesterday. China has issued a NOTAM, or Notice to Airmen, asking all Asian airlines not to fly over or close to Taiwan while the drills are in progress.

The US delegation will also travel to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Malaysia. The notice stated that the drills will take place in both the air and the seas, but the government has not provided a date or any other information. The media was informed by Suttipong Kongpun, director of Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority, that every Thai carrier had already received the warning through email.

According to Shi Yi, a spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command, “these activities are a necessary response to the coordinated efforts between the US and the Taiwan independence forces.” Three Thai airlines operate flights between the kingdom and Taiwan and Taipei, according to Auttipong: Thai Vietjet operates a weekly service, Thai Airways operates two weekly flights, and Lion Air operates four weekly flights. On August 3, Nancy Pelosi and the other US congressional committee members visited Taiwan. They just stayed there for a few hours before leaving. For the next four days, as the Chinese military conducts various operations till Sunday, August 7, China has advised planes flying in Asia to avoid Taiwan’s airspace.