U.S. Urges China-Taiwan Dialogue to Resolve Flight Route Disputes
The United States has urged China and Taiwan to engage in dialogue over flight route disputes across the Taiwan Strait, following Beijing’s unilateral announcement of the W121 flight route.
Why this matters: China’s unilateral flight path changes near the Taiwan Strait’s median line increase the risk of accidents and complicate regional air traffic under the guise of civilian aviation. For the U.S., these actions undermine stability and aviation safety in a critical corridor. For Taiwan, they pressure civil-military readiness and reduce its decision-making space in contested airspace.
On July 6, China unilaterally announced a new flight route in the Taiwan Strait without prior coordination with Taiwan — an escalatory move that raises cross-Strait tensions and aviation safety concerns in a strategically sensitive corridor.
China announced the opening of the W121 route just west of the median line of the Taiwan Strait, connecting to the M503 flight route. It was the latest in a series of unilateral actions by Beijing involving new flight paths.
The launch of W121 follows last year’s opening of W122 and W123 flight paths, which coincided with M503’s eastward shift.
First declared in 2015, the M503 route lies within the Shanghai Flight Information Region but runs very close to the Taipei Flight Information Region, raising concerns about flight safety and Taiwan’s sovereignty.
U.S. State Department spokesperson said in response that the United States expects cross-Strait differences to be resolved “by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait.” The spokesperson added that civil aviation and safety issues in the Taiwan Strait should be resolved through dialogue.
Michael Mazza, Senior Director for Research at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security, said China’s unilateral openings of the flight routes are both symbolic and substantive.
Symbolically, China aims to assert sovereignty over the skies and isolate Taiwan, calculating that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will not intervene.
Substantively, the routes pose a national security risk to Taiwan by allowing Chinese pilots to familiarize themselves with flight paths over the Taiwan Strait and potentially disguise military aircraft as civilian planes.
“Overall, China’s air route machinations are part and parcel of a broader effort to pressure, envelop, and complicate the defense of Taiwan,” he said.
Graphic: CNA
Sources:
[1] Focus Taiwan
[2] Taipei Times
Senators Curtis, Rosen Introduce Bill to Counter Chinese Sabotage of Taiwan’s Undersea Cables
On July 9, U.S. SenatorsJohn Curtis (R-UT) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the bipartisan “Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act” (S. 2222) to urge the U.S. government to help protect Taiwan’s undersea communication cables and bolster their resilience against China’s “gray zone” tactics.
The bill directs the U.S. government to establish an initiative, led by the Department of State in coordination with the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, as well as the Coast Guard, to deploy real-time monitoring systems, develop rapid-response protocols, improve maritime surveillance, and strengthen international cooperation to counter sabotage efforts targeting Taiwan’s undersea cables.
“Gray zone” tactics refer to ambiguous or unconventional actions used to gain a strategic advantage without triggering open conflict.
Disrupting undersea cables is a key part of China’s military strategy “to cripple Taiwan’s communications in a conflict,” Senators Curtis and Rosen said in a press release.
Since February 2023, at least 11 undersea cable disruptions have been reported around Taiwan, most of them linked to vessels suspected of deliberate interference, the statement said.
“We can’t stand idle as China ramps up its tactics to isolate Taiwan, including by sabotaging its vital undersea cables,” Curtis said. “By improving systems monitoring and helping increase cable resiliency, our bipartisan legislation sends a clear message: the United States stands with Taiwan and our allies in defending shared infrastructure, sovereignty, and freedom,” he continued.
This bipartisan legislation was introduced to bolster U.S.-Taiwan collaboration “in order to protect these underground cables and impose sanctions on any adversary that targets this critical infrastructure,” Rosen said.
Sources:
[1] Sen. John Curtis’ Office
[2] Focus Taiwan
[3] Taipei Times
Senators Van Hollen, Curtis Introduce Bipartisan Taiwan International Solidarity Act
On July 9, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and John Curtis (R-UT)reintroduced the bipartisan “Taiwan International Solidarity Act” (S. 2224) to strengthen Taiwan’s ability to participate in international organizations.
The bill clarifies that United Nations General Assembly Resolution (UNGA) Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, “did not address the issue of representation of Taiwan and its people in the United Nations or any related organizations, nor did the resolution . . . include any statement pertaining to Taiwan’s sovereignty.”
The bill aims to make clear that UNGA Resolution 2758 does not prevent the United States from using its vote, voice, and influence to oppose the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) ongoing efforts to exclude Taiwan from the international community. It also calls on the U.S. to work with allies and partners to resist the PRC’s attempts to undermine Taiwan’s diplomatic relationships and international partnerships.
“Our bipartisan bill uses American leverage to counter Beijing’s efforts to silence Taiwan on the world stage and ensure it can play a robust role in shaping international affairs,” said Senator Van Hollen in a press release.
“The United Nations must not become a platform for that distortion. It must stand for clarity,” Senator Curtis stated. This legislative effort would ensure that “our representatives push back—firmly and consistently—against [China’s] false claims and stand up for Taiwan’s dignity and right to self-determination,” he added.
The House version of the bill (H.R. 2416), introduced earlier this year by U.S. Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Young Kim (R-CA), passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support in May.
