Vietnam Airlines has changed its routes in the region in response to rising tensions between China and the United States after US leader Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

The airline wants to avoid the airspace over the Taiwan Strait because of possible Chinese military exercises around the strait, as reported by the German aviation portal Aero. “In order to ensure operations and flight safety, Vietnam Airlines will adjust flight routes between Vietnam and Northeast Asia including Japan, Korea and Taiwan, and between Vietnam and the United States from August 4 to allow overflying of some areas near the island of Taiwan (China) to avoid,” the airline wrote. China had previously warned against flights around Taiwan.

Beijing has announced military maneuvers around the democratic island republic. These are in response to the visit of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.