Taiwan bureaucracy blocks China flyover request

TAIPEI, Aug 29 (Reuters) Taiwan has blocked a Chinese request to use its airspace for an oceanographic survey because it applied through the wrong channel, a government representative said today.

China has seen self-ruled, democratic Taiwan as part of its territory rather than a separate country since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. China has threatened to take the island by force if necessary.

The China Geological Survey applied through a Taipei-based non-governmental organisation to allow two civilian aircraft into restricted airspace, so Taiwan could not grant permission, a government representative said today. The request eventually filtered up to government level.

''Mainland China should go through formal cross-Straits channels and normal procedures to notify our side so our departments can handle the matter appropriately,'' the island's semi-governmental Straits Exchange Foundation said in a statement.

Political tension restricts air travel in the heavily militarised 160-km the stretch of water between the two sides.

China had carried out surveys in Taiwan-controlled airspace before, the government representative said, though not often.

''This is not only an official matter. It relates more to aviation safety,'' the foundation statement said.

REUTERS SZ RK0941