The East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) is the most threatened flyway worldwide, encompassing the greatest number of threatened migratory bird species of all flyways on Earth [1].This is largely attributed to pronounced human-bird conflicts in Asia, leading to elevated rates of habitat loss, degradation, and illegal hunting [2,3].During the last few decades, there was extensive degradation of Asia's inland [4] and coastal wetlands [5], vital habitats used by migratory species during their annual migration, spanning from Arctic Russia and Alaska to the southern limits of Australia and New Zealand.The impact of this widespread habitat loss is becoming increasingly obvious.Over half of the critical sites of a globally threatened waterfowl species experienced habitat loss [6] and, as tidal mudflat habitats in the Yellow Sea shrank, populations of migratory shorebirds that rely on this region showed rapid population declines [7].The loss of migratory species diversity can lower the diversity and stability of ecological communities globally, leading to subsequent declines in ecosystem functioning and ecosystem stability [8].Since China has undergone fast economic growth and rapid urbanization, unprecedented in human history [3], the strategy of China in safeguarding the massive migration of wild birds along the world's most populated and threatened flyway should be examined in more detail.Here, we present an analysis of a globally-recognized important bird area network defined by BirdLife International [9] to investigate: (1) China's potential role in the protection of the EAAF, (2) the shortfalls of migratory bird surveillance and conservation in China, and (3) the path ahead for the migratory species conservation policies in China.