US Air Force C-40C transport aircraft lands in Shenzhen

A United States Air Force C-40C Clipper transport aircraft made a rare landing at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport on September 29. The aircraft, a military version of the Boeing 737-700 used to transport high-ranking government and military officials, departed from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and stopped near Tokyo before arriving in Shenzhen.

While neither the Chinese nor the U.S. governments have officially disclosed the mission or the identity of the passengers, observers suggest the flight may be related to preparations for the 33rd APEC Leaders' Meeting, which China will host in Shenzhen in November 2026. Some aviation experts speculate the aircraft could be a U.S. advance team carrying diplomatic, security, or communications personnel to inspect venues and logistics for the upcoming summit.