Military Tensions Escalate as Chinese, Russian Planes Enter South Korea’s Air Defense Zone
Seoul: Military tensions in East Asia surged as multiple Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered South Korea’s Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) without prior notice, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported.
The incursion occurred on Wednesday, prompting the South Korean military to scramble fighter jets to track and monitor the foreign aircraft. Although the planes did not violate South Korea’s territorial airspace, their unannounced entry into the KADIZ is viewed as a serious breach of regional security norms.
According to the JCS, the incident involved two Chinese H-6 bombers and multiple Russian aircraft, including Tu-95 bombers and Su-35 fighter jets. The planes reportedly flew into the KADIZ from the southwest, near Ieodo, a submerged rock controlled by South Korea but also claimed by China.
This marks yet another episode in a series of unauthorized incursions into the KADIZ by Chinese and Russian forces in recent years. The repeated violations are seen as a coordinated effort to challenge U.S. allies in the region and test the operational readiness of their defense systems.
South Korea’s Ministry of Defense strongly condemned the incident, calling it “provocative” and “unacceptable.” Officials stressed the importance of respecting international rules and ensuring stability in the region.
China defended the flight as part of routine military drills, while Russia claimed its aircraft were conducting joint patrols and adhered to international airspace protocols.
These developments have heightened concerns about the potential for miscalculation in a region already fraught with geopolitical tensions involving North Korea’s nuclear program and the Taiwan Strait crisis.
The South Korean government is expected to lodge formal protests with both Beijing and Moscow, urging compliance with international norms to prevent future escalations.