Beijing tests flights on disputed M503 air route over Taiwan Strait
Taiwanese authorities were kept in the loop on the mainland's operation along the controversial M503 route that edges close to island's airspace
Beijing tested flights on a controversial air route on Sunday to pave the way for the official launch of the path that is close to Taiwanese airspace.
The 11am flight tests on the M503 air route - over the central line of the Taiwan Strait - were closely monitored by the Taiwanese authorities, which were informed of them beforehand to avoid a dispute between the mainland and the island, officials said.
"[The mainland] notified us in advance of their plan to test the operation within the M503 air route," Taiwan's cabinet spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said.
Beijing had agreed to move the route 8 nautical miles westwards after three rounds of talks with the Taiwanese transport ministry, Sun said. The original route was less than 8km from Taiwan's airspace.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said that based on previous discussions, the factors tested included flight safety within the path, radar response, automatic communications systems and other technical issues.
"All the issues that needed to be tested were confirmed by our two sides, and we were informed of the flight numbers, planes and other details involved in the test," a council official said.