Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the announcement of 4 January 2019 by the Civil Aviation Administration of China that it will activate four air routes M503, W121, W122 and W123 close to Taiwan’s Flight Information Region, what assessment he has made of the effect of that policy on relations between Taiwan and China.

​We understand that the opening of the four new air routes in the Taiwan Strait on 4 January is a cause of concern for the authorities in Taiwan.

Her Majesty's Government is assessing whether the introduction of these new northbound flights in the Straits will have any impact on aviation safety in the region.

In line with our longstanding position, we encourage China and Taiwan to engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve this issue.