The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a new measure aimed at banning Chinese airlines from using Russian airspace for flights to and from the United States.
According to Reuters, the proposal seeks to eliminate the competitive advantage currently enjoyed by several Chinese carriers — including China Eastern Airlines — which use shorter routes over Russia, thereby reducing flight times and fuel costs.
In contrast, U.S. airlines have been prohibited from flying over Russian territory since 2022, following sanctions and heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow linked to the war in Ukraine.
The Trump administration argues that this uneven playing field unfairly benefits Chinese carriers and harms U.S. operators. The proposed rule would apply only to passenger flights, leaving cargo flights unaffected.
Analysts view this as yet another escalation in the ongoing U.S.–China trade conflict, coming shortly after Beijing’s decision to impose stricter controls on rare earth mineral exports, which are vital to U.S. technology and defense sectors.
