How close do new Chinese flight paths come to Taiwanese islands?

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New Chinese Flight Paths Come Within 1.1 Nautical Miles of Taiwanese Islands

Taiwan has expressed serious concerns regarding new Chinese flight paths that operate perilously close to Taiwanese-controlled islands, specifically Kinmen and Matsu. At their nearest point, these Chinese routes are just 1.1 nautical miles away from existing Taiwanese flight paths. Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration has deemed this a significant risk to aviation safety, particularly given the proximity to its controlled airspace around these islands.
Unilateral Opening of New Air Routes

China has opened new flight routes, designated W123 and W122, which connect to the M503 flight route. These new routes are situated alongside existing flight paths that serve the islands of Kinmen and Matsu, islands with regular air traffic to and from mainland Taiwan. The Chinese civil aviation regulator announced these routes were now operational, with further optimisation of airspace around Fuzhou airport scheduled for May 16. This announcement came without prior consultation with Taiwan.
Significant Aviation Safety Impact

Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration stated that these new routes pose a serious threat to aviation safety within Taiwanese airspace. The administration highlighted that the limited distance between the Chinese and Taiwanese flight paths creates certain risks. Taiwanese air traffic controllers have indicated they will request Chinese counterparts to guide any aircraft away if they approach Taiwan's airspace, as Chinese aircraft are not permitted to fly in the airspace Taipei controls around Kinmen and Matsu.
Historical Context of Flight Path Disputes

This incident follows a previous dispute in 2018 when Taiwan complained about China opening the northbound section of the M503 route without informing Taipei, which was seen as a contravention of a 2015 agreement to discuss such flight path changes beforehand. The median line of the Taiwan Strait, which historically served as an unofficial demarcation and was generally not crossed by military aircraft, is now regularly flown over by Chinese warplanes. This demonstrates an ongoing pattern of China challenging established norms in the region.

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How close do new Chinese flight paths come to Taiwanese islands?

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