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South Korea’s military has confirmed that China and Russia conducted a joint aerial patrol on Friday, during which five Chinese and six Russian military aircraft entered South Korea’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) without prior notice.
What’s the deal: On Friday, five Chinese and six Russian military aircraft, including bombers and fighter jets, entered South Korea’s ADIZ between 9:35 a.m. and 1:53 p.m. The Chinese planes entered near Ieodo Island off South Korea’s southern coast, flying northward over waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Russian aircraft approached from the northeast, and the two groups met to fly together over waters south of the easternmost Dokdo islets before exiting the zone. Although the aircraft did not breach South Korean territorial airspace, their coordinated movements were identified as part of a joint Sino-Russian aerial patrol.
South Korea responds: In response, South Korea scrambled Air Force fighter jets to intercept the aircraft. Although the foreign planes did not breach South Korean territorial airspace, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said they “expressed regret” over China and Russia’s actions. They added that both countries needed to “prevent a recurrence” and said their actions could “unnecessarily heighten tensions in the region.”
Digging Deeper: This all comes as China and Russia have significantly increased their joint military patrols, conducting coordinated operations in the Pacific and other critical regions. These operations have included joint aerial patrols over the Sea of Japan, the Bering Sea near Alaska, and even Arctic waters. Since 2019, China and Russia have regularly conducted “joint strategic air patrols.” Beyond the Pacific, their cooperation has extended to Arctic naval patrols, exploring shipping routes and signaling broader geopolitical ambitions.
