China To Ban Vessels From Area Near Taiwan

China will ban vessels from an area near Taiwan on Sunday because of the possibility of falling rocket debris, its maritime safety agency said on Thursday, as Japan sought details from Beijing on a reported no-fly zone in the same location.

China has not commented on the no-fly zone but South Korea, which was also briefed on the plans, said it was due to a falling object related to a launch vehicle.

The disruption comes during tension in the region over Chinese military exercises around Taiwan, a show of force in response to a meeting last week in Los Angeles between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China regards Taiwan as its own territory and objects to any interactions between the Taiwanese leadership and foreign officials. Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims.

Taiwan’s government on Wednesday confirmed a Reuters report “that China was planning to impose a no-fly zone from April 16-18 – when Japan hosts a meeting of G7 foreign ministers – but later said China had shortened the stipulation to just 27 minutes on Sunday morning after Taipei protested.”

The no-fly zone will affect about 33 flights, Taiwan’s official Central News Agency reported, citing the island’s transport minister, Wang Kwo-tsai.

In a brief statement, China’s Maritime Safety Administration released coordinates for the zone, saying shipping was banned from entering from 9 a.m. (0100 GMT) until 3 p.m. on Sunday as there “may be falling rocket debris.”

Reuters/Shakirat Sadiq