TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) has dismissed national safety concerns raised by some Taiwanese citizens regarding the flight path of China Eastern Airlines.
Critics raised concerns about the path of China Eastern Airlines aircraft (flights MU2945/CES2945) directly over Taiwan's western plain from Nanjing to Kaohsiung. They questioned the legality of the flight path and raised concerns about national safety implications.
However, the MND responded by stating that the airway the aircraft was flying on had received approval from the Civil Aeronautics Administration, effectively dismissing the safety concerns.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration also assured the public that the aircraft was flying on an existing airway, suggesting it adhered to established protocols. Experts further highlighted that Japanese and Korean carriers use similar flight routes.
For instance, All Nippon Airways' NH5831, en route from Narita to Kaohsiung, and Korean Air's KE5699, traveling from Incheon to Kaohsiung, follow the same path. Despite these reassurances, critics warned against complacency when it comes to Chinese aircraft.
They emphasized that it remains challenging to guarantee that China will refrain from employing civil aviation aircraft for military purposes. It is worth noting that Taiwan and China resumed regular direct flights to 10 cities in China in March, with 209 flights per week, indicating the significance of aviation connections between the two countries.