Indo-Pacific — 2026-04-07
China Reserves Offshore Airspace for 40 Days Without Explanation, Raising Taiwan Concerns
China issued NOTAMs reserving large swaths of airspace in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea from March 27 to May 6, a 40-day restriction with no vertical ceiling and no announced military exercise. The reserved zone extends from waters facing South Korea south to the East China Sea facing Japan. Stanford's
Analysis
The 40-day duration and lack of explanation are unprecedented. Normal PLA exercises last days, not weeks. With US carrier strike groups committed to the Persian Gulf, Pacific naval presence is diminished. The timing may be coincidental, but the operational window is real, and Beijing is not explaining itself.
The 40-day duration and lack of explanation are unprecedented. Normal PLA exercises last days, not weeks. With US carrier strike groups committed to the Persian Gulf, Pacific naval presence is diminished. The timing may be coincidental, but the operational window is real, and Beijing is not explaining itself.
3 sources
- China reserves offshore airspace for 40 days without explanation: WSJ -
Taipei Times - New China air alerts unusual, WSJ report says -
Taipei Times - China 40-Day Airspace Lockdown Near Japan and South Korea Triggers Fears of Major PLA War Rehearsal -
Defence Security Asia