China and Russia’s air forces conducted their ninth joint strategic air patrol over the Sea of Japan on Friday, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. This patrol is part of an ongoing cooperation agreement between the two countries that has been in place since 2019. The mission aimed to test and improve the operational capabilities and joint training of both air forces.
South Korea’s military reported that it scrambled fighter jets after 11 Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered its Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). The aircraft remained in the zone for approximately four hours before exiting without incident. South Korea has formally protested to both China and Russia, criticizing the air patrol for being conducted without prior notice, which is a requirement for security purposes when foreign aircraft enter a country’s ADIZ.
While ADIZs are not part of a nation’s territorial airspace, they are regions where foreign aircraft must identify themselves. These zones often overlap, leading to heightened tensions, especially when foreign aircraft operate within them without alerting the relevant countries.
Earlier this year, China and Russia also conducted a joint air patrol near the US state of Alaska, involving nuclear-capable bombers, which led to a response from US and Canadian fighter jets. The latest patrol underscores the continued military cooperation between the two nations amid growing concerns over security in the region.
