South Korea, Japan Lodge Protests After China–Russia Joint Bomber Patrol Near Their Airspace

Overview

• Seoul said seven Russian and two Chinese military aircraft entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone on Tuesday, prompting fighter scrambles but no violation of sovereign airspace.
• South Korea delivered formal complaints to the Chinese and Russian defense attachés in Seoul and vowed active responses to future flights within the KADIZ under international law.
• Japan reported that two Russian Tu-95 bombers joined two Chinese H-6 bombers and conducted a circuit around the country, which Tokyo labeled a show of force that raised serious security concerns.
• China confirmed a coordinated strategic air patrol with Russia over the East China Sea and Western Pacific as part of their annual military cooperation plan.
• Russia characterized the operation as a routine mission lasting about eight hours, while regional militaries remained on alert and conducted quick-reaction scrambles.