Russian and Chinese fighter jets fly over South Korea's air defense identification zone

On November 29, the South Korean military said it had dispatched several fighter jets after five Chinese military aircraft and six Russian military aircraft flew through the country's air defense zone.

An air defense identification zone (ADIZ) is an area beyond a country's airspace over which that country attempts to control aircraft for security reasons. The concept is not defined in any international treaty.

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Earlier, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said five Chinese military aircraft and six Russian aircraft flew in and out of the South Korean ADIZ from 9:35 a.m. to 1:53 p.m. But the aircraft "did not violate South Korean airspace." The South Korean military added that it had identified the aircraft before entering the ADIZ, and deployed South Korean aircraft to "prepare for any contingency."

China's Defense Ministry called the flights the "ninth joint strategic patrol", organized "in accordance with the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries".

South Korean military officials told local media that Chinese military aircraft flew toward small islands off the east coast of South Korea, after passing between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Russian aircraft also flew south toward the islets.

Since 2019, China and Russia have regularly sent military aircraft into the Korean air defense zone without prior notice during joint exercises, CBS reported. Similar incidents occurred in June and December 2023, and in May and November 2022.

South Korea's defense ministry "regretted" the planes' long-duration flights without prior notice. It suggested "taking appropriate measures to prevent recurrence," adding that such actions could "unnecessarily escalate tensions in the region."

Phuong Anh (Source: CBS)

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