Taiwan has rejected China's call to open restricted air space over the Taiwan Strait to help meet rising passenger demand between the island and the mainland.
Flights currently have to make a detour around the restricted air space -- "the median line" -- between China and Taiwan. ...
But Taiwan's defence ministry dismissed the proposal on Monday, saying "the median line is extremely important to Taiwan's air security."
Taiwan's military said the restriction gives its air force more time and space to react to any Chinese attack.
"Before the Chinese communists publicly renounce their desires of invading Taiwan by force and re-adjust their military deployment targeting the island, the current flight routes should stay unchanged," the ministry said in a statement.
Unless the Taiwanese are content to facilitate the first wave of a Chinese invasion, this is a wise move.
