(Reuters) – China plans to close airspace north of Taiwan from April 16 to 18, four sources with knowledge of the matter said, a move that could disrupt flights around the region.
The foreign ministries of China and Taiwan did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Four officials outside China, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the ban would disrupt Taiwan’s northern flight information region (FIR) and they did not know the reason for the restrictions.
It comes as China completes several days of military training around Taiwan self-rule, a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s recent meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, which angered Beijing.
A senior official with direct knowledge of the matter said the flight ban would affect 60-70% of flights between Northeast and Southeast Asia, as well as flights between Taiwan and South Korea, Japan and North America. .
According to OPSGROUP, an aviation industry cooperative that advises on flight risks, previous restrictions imposed during Chinese military exercises last August led to significant disruptions to flights in the region, with some pilots forced to carry additional fuel.