Pakistan reversed a short-lived ban on Taiwanese airlines flying through its airspace, in a move Western diplomats read as a signal to Beijing rather than a real policy shift.

• Pakistan's defense minister said only Chinese airlines could use its airspace under a "one China" policy, but hours later aviation authorities approved China Airlines and EVA Air flights through March.
• A Western diplomat said the reversal happened only because Pakistan had just gotten closer to the US, and the ban was likely meant to reassure China that Pakistan still backs Beijing on issues like Taiwan.
• Pakistani officials downplayed the episode, saying the approval window just matched the normal winter flight schedule and noting that even China itself allows Taiwanese airlines to fly over its territory.
• The flip-flop raises questions about whether Pakistan is a reliable partner for international airlines.

Outlook: The underlying tension between Pakistan's warming ties with Washington and its loyalty to Beijing on Taiwan is likely to keep surfacing in similar friction points.