South Korea protests Chinese and Russian warplanes entering its airspace

South Korea complained to its military attaché in the country a day after Chinese and Russian warplanes entered South Korea’s air defense zone.

Seoul said it sent fighter jets “to take tactical measures to prepare for any emergency” after seven Russian and two Chinese military aircraft “briefly entered” the area on Tuesday, but noted they “did not violate” South Korean airspace.

Some countries have designated air identification zones and require foreign aircraft to identify themselves within them. These are not part of sovereign airspace under international law.

In March, Seoul also deployed fighter jets after several Russian warplanes flew into the area.

According to South Korean media reports, officials from the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that Russian aircraft entered the South Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (Cadiz) near Ulleungdo and Dokdo, while Chinese aircraft entered near the outlying islands.

The official said aircraft from both sides later regrouped in the airspace near Japan’s Tsushima Island.

“Our military will actively respond to neighboring countries’ aircraft activities in Cadiz in accordance with international law,” South Korea’s Defense Ministry said in filing the complaint on Wednesday.

Japan and South Korea both claim the area. Dokdo Groupthe same is true for North Korea.

Yudo, an underwater rock above South Korea’s Jeju Island, is a point of contention between Seoul and Beijing, with both sides including it in their respective air defense zones.

China confirmed on Wednesday that its air force conducted joint patrols with Russia in airspace over the East China Sea and the western Pacific.

A Defense Ministry spokesman said the exercise was part of an “annual cooperation plan” between Beijing and Moscow to “address regional challenges and maintain regional peace and stability.”

China and Russia have repeatedly entered South Korea’s air defense zones without notice since 2019, often during similar exercises.

Russia does not recognize South Korea’s air defense identification zone, saying it was established “unilaterally” and therefore should not create any legal obligations for other countries.