The Chinese government has instructed the country’s airlines to reduce the number of flights to Japan through March 2026, according to people familiar with the matter, signaling Beijing is braced for a protracted spat between the two nations. The edict was made last week after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan inflamed China, but before Donald Trump’s back-to-back calls with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the recently installed Japanese leader on Monday. Airlines were asked to make the changes “for now,” suggesting the situation could change in line with diplomatic developments, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the information is private. The end of March marks the change between the global airline industry’s winter and summer schedules.

Full report : China Asks Airlines to Extend Japan Flight Cuts Until March 2026.