South Korea, Japan Protest China–Russia Air Patrols as U.S. Rebukes Radar Targeting

Overview

• Seoul scrambled fighters after seven Russian and two Chinese aircraft entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone, which South Korea said did not involve a violation of its sovereign airspace.
• South Korea delivered a formal complaint to Chinese and Russian defense attachés in Seoul over the flights through its KADIZ.
• Japan said two Russian Tu-95 bombers linked up with two Chinese H-6 bombers for joint flights around the country, prompting fighter launches and a statement of grave concerns.
• The U.S. State Department criticized China for locking targeting radars on Japanese aircraft near Okinawa during exercises the previous weekend, calling the behavior harmful to regional stability.
• Beijing and Moscow characterized the patrols as planned, routine exercises under annual cooperation, with South Korean reports placing activity near Ulleung, Dokdo, and Ieodo and no kinetic incidents reported.