China: Military drills to take place in the northern South China Sea 18:00 July 27-22:00 July 29

Event

The Chinese military has established an exclusion area to facilitate military drills in the South China Sea 18:00 July 27-22:00 July 29. The zone begins approximately 9 km (5.5 miles) south of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, and extends about 150 km (93 miles) southward. The Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) has banned civilian vessels from entering five nautical miles (9.26 km, 5.75 miles) of the area for the exercises' duration. It is unclear if the MSA notification applies to civilian aircraft.

The drills and associated exclusion zone may prompt minor regional maritime shipping delays. The exercises may restrict shipping traffic in waterways near port facilities in Zhuhai and Macau. Flight delays cannot be ruled out at airports in the region, especially Zhuhai International Airport (ZUH) and, potentially, offshore helicopter services.

Advice

Plan for potential shipping congestion and delays. If possible, consider alternative transport for time-sensitive cargo. Confirm flights through July 29 if traveling through ZUH as a precaution.