News Update : Shock 40-day blackout: China seals off skies twice the size of Taiwan without warning - TOI WORLD DESK

China has imposed a 40-day ban on civil aviation over a vast airspace near Shanghai, sparking speculation about military activities. The extensive, unexplained restriction, covering over 73,000 sq km, is unusual in its scale and duration, with experts suggesting it's for military exercises. This move is seen as part of China's broader strategy to assert influence in the Indo-Pacific. China has imposed a 40-day ban on civil aviation over a vast airspace near Shanghai, sparking speculation about military activities. The extensive, unexplained restriction, covering over 73,000 sq km, is unusual in its scale and duration, with experts suggesting it's for military exercises. This move is seen as part of China's broader strategy to assert influence in the Indo-Pacific. Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/no-possible-use-other-than-military-china-closes-huge-airspace-zone-off-shanghai-for-40-days-offers-no-explanation/articleshow/130144133.cms Date: 2026-04-09T13:20:08.000Z