China has voiced strong opposition to Washington’s proposal to prohibit its airlines from using Russian airspace on flights to and from the United States, warning that such a move would negatively impact global travel and hinder person-to-person connections. A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that restricting Chinese carriers from flying over Russia en route to the US would “undermine international travel and people-to-people exchanges.”
The Ministry advised the Trump administration to “take a hard look at its own policy and its impact on American businesses”, hinting towards the US’s unprecedented tariffs on other countries.
“Rather than punishing other countries and passengers around the world, perhaps it’s time the US took a hard look at its own policy and the impact on American businesses,” the ministry added.
According to Fox News Business, citing Reuters, the Trump administration on Thursday proposed restricting Chinese airlines from using Russian airspace, arguing that access to shorter routes gives them an “unfair” advantage over American carriers.
The US Transportation Department suggested this after many American airlines raised the issue, as US airlines have been forced to take longer and more costly routes around Russia, while Chinese carriers continue to use the shorter routes, enabling them to offer faster and cheaper flights on major routes. As per Fox News Business, the US administration has given China two days to respond and indicated that a final order could take effect as early as November.
Russia, in response to Western sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has banned US and several European carriers from its airspace. Russian skies remain the shortest route between Asia, Europe, and North America, offering lower fuel consumption and operating costs.
The move comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing on several economic fronts. Earlier on Thursday, Beijing announced tighter export controls on rare earth materials, which are essential to US industries, a step seen as a countermeasure to Washington’s trade restrictions.
Notably, US President Donald Trump on Friday announced that starting November 1, 2025, the US will place a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese goods “over and above any tariff that they are currently paying.” He added that export controls on critical software would also come into effect that day.
“Based on the fact that China has taken this unprecedented position, and speaking only for the USA, and not other Nations who were similarly threatened, starting November 1, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any further actions or changes taken by China), the United States of America will impose a Tariff of 100% on China, over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying. Also on November 1, we will impose Export Controls on any and all critical software,” the US President said in a post on Truth Social. (With Inputs from ANI)
