Chinese FM rebuts U.S. proposal to ban Chinese airlines from flying over Russian on U.S. routes

(ECNS) -- China supports its companies in safeguarding their legitimate and lawful rights and interests, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday at a press conference in response to the U.S. ban on Chinese airlines from flying over Russia on U.S. routes.

Recently, the U.S. administration proposed banning Chinese airlines from flying over Russia on routes to and from the U.S., claiming that the ensuing reduced flight time puts American carriers at a disadvantage.

Major Chinese airlines including China Eastern, Air China, and China Southern have urged the Trump administration to abandon the plan, saying that it would increase flight times, raise airfares and could disrupt some travel plans for passengers.

Lin noted that the U.S. imposing restrictions on the operations of Chinese carriers is not conducive to exchanges between the two countries' people and also harms the U.S.' own interests.

"We have also noted that the U.S. public has voiced numerous objections to this move," he said.

The final order could be implemented as soon as November 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

(By Zhang Dongfang)