U.S. senator warns China's flight restrictions threaten international travelers

Taipei, Oct. 3 (CNA) A U.S. senator has urged Washington to counter Chinese pressure on countries to restrict Taiwanese presidential flights, warning that such tactics could threaten international travelers.

At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee nominations hearing Wednesday, Tammy Duckworth questioned Marc Dillard, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to Madagascar and Comoros, about Beijing's efforts to isolate Taiwan.

She said, back in April, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles had revoked permission for President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) plane to fly through the airspace they managed, delaying his visit to Taiwan's diplomatic ally Eswatini, and that the revocation was at China's behest.

Madagascar and Mauritius subsequently interfered with his return journey, she added, alleging that the restrictions violated International Civil Aviation Organization rules.

The Illinois senator said Taiwanese officials had repeatedly raised the issue during her recent visit to Taiwan.

"These reckless actions could endanger everyone who travels internationally," she said, warning that Chinese President Xi Jinping's (習近平) next target could be aircraft that carry civilians or critical supplies.

Dillard, currently serving as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in South Africa, said Madagascar's withdrawal of clearance had a limited impact on Lai's flight but reflected Beijing's broader intimidation tactics.

"And in this case, I believe [it] clearly undermined Madagascar's sovereign foreign policy decisions," he said.

Dillard added that if confirmed, he would engage Madagascar's government on the risks of deepening ties with China and the advantages of working with the United States as a trusted partner.

In response, Duckworth challenged Dillard's characterization of the disruption as "limited," noting that Lai had needed to change his flight path.

Her concern, she said, extended beyond the immediate consequences for one trip to whether countries honored international aviation arrangements.

"And we can't let that happen because if it happens here, it's going to happen in other places with territorial waters, with international trade," she said.

In a statement Thursday, Duckworth's office said the episode underscored the urgent need for U.S. support for Taiwan against Chinese pressure.