Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration announced on November 5 that China has not yet supplied information regarding the new Xiang’an airport in Xiamen, scheduled to open in 2026. The airport’s proximity—less than 10 km— to Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands, measured at approximately 3 km, has sparked safety concerns amid ongoing development and construction activities observable from Taiwan. This situation underscores the importance of cooperation between Chinese and Taiwanese authorities to ensure safe flight operations in the region.
The Taiwanese authorities called on China to commence discussions via existing liaison channels for detailed planning and coordination, emphasizing that uncoordinated development could compromise air traffic safety. To date, both the Chinese aviation authorities and the Taiwan Affairs Office have not responded to requests for comments. Kinmen airport mainly offers domestic Taiwanese flights, with occasional international charters. The situation reflects longstanding tensions and concerns over China's unilateral route developments and their implications for Taiwan’s security and sovereignty, especially given the islands’ strategic importance since the civil war era of 1949.
Safety and Strategic Concerns
Historically, Taiwan and China have experienced friction regarding flight safety over offshore islands like Kinmen and Matsu, particularly when China opens new routes without consultation. Taiwan remains attentive to developments that could influence regional security, especially if China leverages infrastructure projects such as Xiang’an airport.
