Mysterious: China Suddenly Announces 40-Day No-Fly Zone

The Chinese government has suddenly announced a 40-day no-fly zone off the coast of Shanghai, without any explanation for the reasons. Mysterious! The airspace restriction was announced in a notice known as a Notice to Airmen, which is typically issued before Chinese military exercises or missile firing tests. However, the notice does not provide a reason for the no-fly zone, which runs from 27 March to 6 May and covers an area of around 340 miles across five zones. Quoted from The Washington Times, Thursday (9/4/2026), according to military analysts, the no-fly zone is likely a signal that China will conduct large-scale military exercises. However, no exercises have been announced so far. Retired US Navy Captain Jim Fanell said the closure zone is “most likely related to upcoming exercises such as the previous Justice Mission Exercises.” The last large-scale Justice Mission Exercise was held in December last year and involved provocative and threatening drills with naval and air manoeuvres around Taiwan. Although it does not completely close civil flight paths, this policy still restricts air activities. Commercial aircraft are still allowed to pass through with special coordination, but surveillance in the area has been tightened. Rick Fisher, a China expert from the International Assessment and Strategy Center, said that a 40-day People’s Liberation Army exercise would give the Chinese military the opportunity to practise high operational tempo or sustained operations for a possible Taiwan invasion plan. “The location of the restricted area will serve to obstruct US forces transiting from South Korea to the Taiwan operational area,” he said. In the past, China’s notices to airmen lasted for several days. The airspace closure zone covers airspace and waters in the Yellow Sea facing South Korea, south through the East China Sea near Shanghai, and towards waters near Japan. Japan has been a primary target of Chinese propaganda in recent weeks, following Tokyo’s announcement that it has deployed missiles with a range of 620 miles. This unusual airspace closure comes after a sharp reduction in Chinese military flights around Taiwan last month. For 10 days, no Chinese air force fighter jets were detected, after nearly two years of routine flights near the island.