Pakistan's defense minister temporarily blocked Taiwanese airlines from its airspace, triggering a sharp protest from Taiwan before the ban was quietly reversed hours later.

• Pakistan's defense minister, who also oversees aviation, said only Chinese airlines could use Pakistani airspace under a "one China" policy, effectively barring Taiwan's carriers.
• Hours later, Pakistan's civil aviation authority approved China Airlines and EVA Air to use its airspace for the upcoming winter flight season.
• Taiwan's government called the move a dangerous politicization of airspace that put flight safety at risk and said it disrespected Taiwan's sovereignty, vowing to help affected airlines adjust routes.
• Taiwan's foreign ministry separately accused Pakistan of bowing to China and distorting reality, reaffirming that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to one another.

Outlook: Airlines will keep adjusting routes around the region each flight season, and Taiwan is likely to keep pushing back whenever airspace access gets tied to its political status.