Straighter China flights won't compromise security: MND

The Ministry of National Defense says that straighter air routes between Taiwan and China will not compromise security.

While there are no regular passenger flights between Taiwan and China, there are charter flights on weekends and holidays. But those flights are required to fly over Hong Kong and Macau airspace, which adds to flight time.

New routes would be straighter and faster. For example, a flight from Taipei to Shanghai would take just over an hour, less than half the current time.

Military spokeswoman Lisa Chi says the military has proposed several flight routes that would avoid security risks. She says the ministry has suggested that flights should not cross the imaginary median line in the Taiwan strait.

A formal agreement on the new routes is expected later this month.