Height restriction violations threaten China's military airports  

总参：过半军用机场净空遭破坏 已致飞行事故近百起

Height restriction violations have threatened more than half of China's military airports, leading to about 100 flight accidents over the last two decades, military authorities said Thursday.

More than 10 military airports have been forced to be relocated or closed due to safety concerns, according to a statement by the General Staff Headquarters of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The headquarters said more than 1,000 buildings are higher than clearance limits in the reserve zone, with some standing more than 300 meters higher than the limit.

Aside from high-rise buildings, pet pigeons and small model aircraft in the reserve zones have also posed threats to the security of military airports, according to the headquarters.

Ma Yifei, an officer with the headquarters, said worsening violations were due largely to local governments' poor balancing of economic development and national defense.

In order to protect military airports, a revised law to better protect military facilities, due to be promulgated on August 1, forbids buildings and structures from violating clearance limits in the reserve zones.