TAIPEI - Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration said on Nov 5 that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open in 2026 that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns.

Xiamen’s new Xiang’an airport is only around 3km at its closest point from the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands - the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War - and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side.

In a written statement sent to Reuters, Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced planning and coordination to ensure smooth operations and safety.

The administration has requested China, via existing liaison channels, provide planning information to assess the impact of Xiang’an airport on Kinmen airport, it said.

“However, the relevant Chinese civil aviation authorities have not provided any information to us to date,” it added.

“China has an obligation to ensure that the newly built Xiamen Xiang’an airport will not affect our airspace,” it said.

“Prior communication and coordination are the first step to ensuring safety, and the Civil Aviation Administration calls on the Chinese air traffic control authorities to begin discussions with us promptly.”

Neither China’s Taiwan Affairs Office nor the Civil Aviation Administration of China immediately responded to requests for comment.

Kinmen airport mostly offers domestic flights to other Taiwanese airports, but has occasional international charters.

China’s government refuses to speak to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a “separatist”.

Taiwan officials have raised concerns that China could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan that will be rolled out early 2026, and see Xiamen’s airports as potential part of that plan...