Beijing's Boeing ban jeopardizes decades-old aviation ties

More than 50 years after President Nixon’s 1972 visit paved the runway for Boeing’s entry into China, that partnership is now under pressure. According to Bloomberg, Chinese authorities have told domestic carriers not to place new orders with Boeing, while requiring official approval for any deliveries or purchases of US aviation equipment.

The directive, reportedly issued as trade tensions between Beijing and Washington intensify, threatens one of Boeing’s most vital international markets. The company projects that China will account for 20 percent of its commercial aircraft deliveries through 2043 and require up to $780 billion in aviation services to support its fleet.

President Donald Trump weighed in via Truth Social, accusing China of reneging on a deal to accept "fully committed-to aircraft," reported Airline Weekly. Meanwhile, China’s Commerce Ministry reaffirmed its defiant stance, saying it would “fight until the end” if the US doesn’t shift course.

Despite recent declines in Boeing’s China sales, the market remains deeply embedded in the company’s portfolio. Cirium data shows over 1,500 Boeing aircraft currently operate in China—approximately 40 percent of the national fleet. China Southern Airlines alone has more than 200 Boeing 737s and 27 Max jets on order. Air China, Hainan Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines also maintain large Boeing fleets.