China will ban ships from entering an area north of Taiwan on Sunday (Apr 16) due to “possible falling rocket wreckage”. A provincial maritime authority said, days after Beijing conducted large-scale military drills around the island.
Authorities will close the area around 160km from the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, from 9am to 3 pm local time.
The maritime safety administration of China’s eastern Fujian province said Thursday
It added that vessels would be “forbidden to enter” for the duration of the shutdown.
Beijing planned to impose a no-fly zone north of the island due to “space activities”.
The air restrictions would be in force from 9.30am to 9.57am local time on Sunday, the ministry said. Adding that the zone lies “on the convergence areas of many international routes”.
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.
China had initially planned a three-day shutdown but had relented following objections from Taiwanese authorities, according to the ministry.
On Thursday, reporters asked spokesperson Wang Wenbin at a regular briefing whether Beijing’s foreign ministry would impose the no-fly zone.But he declined to confirm and told them to refer to the competent authorities.
It is unclear what link, if any, exists between the restricted zone and Beijing’s recent war games.