Chinese military causing commercial flights' delay

[SHANGHAI] Shen Zhihong had arrived at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport looking forward to a beach vacation, only to find his flight delayed indefinitely and his holiday plans at the mercy of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The 64-year-old retired professor was among thousands to have their travel obstructed recently when more than 900 flights at Shanghai's two airports were cancelled as the Chinese military staged exercises in the East China Sea.

"We understand and support the needs of national defence," Prof Shen said as he waited to fly to the port city of Dalian. "But we hope there will be less and less impact on civilian flights."

Delays at Chinese airports, ranked the world's worst, highlight the tensions in a nation home to a swelling middle class and a ruling party with a 65-year monopoly on power that's intent on strengthening its military. At stake is the growth of a commercial aviation market that trails only the US in size and needs the PLA to cede airspace to China Southern Ai…