South Korea scrambles jets as China, Russia hold air patrol

China and Russia carried out their 11th joint strategic air patrol on Saturday over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the western Pacific Ocean, according to a statement from China's Ministry of National Defense. The operation prompted South Korea to scramble fighter jets after nearly 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft briefly entered its Korea Air Defence Identification Zone.english.news+1

South Korea's Response

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered the KADIZ over the country's eastern and southern waters on Saturday before quickly departing. The aircraft did not violate South Korean territorial airspace, according to the JCS, which added that it had detected the aircraft before they entered the zone and deployed Air Force fighters to prepare for any contingency.yna+2

A JCS official said the incident appeared to have occurred during the joint air drills conducted by China and Russia, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.caliber+1

Beijing's Framing

China's Ministry of National Defense said the patrol "showcased the two sides' determination and capability to jointly uphold regional peace and stability," according to Xinhua. The operation was conducted as part of the two militaries' annual cooperation plan.anews+1

The patrol follows a similar pattern to the 10th joint air patrol conducted in December 2025, which also prompted South Korea and Japan to scramble jets after Chinese and Russian bombers flew over the East China Sea and the western Pacific. That mission, which lasted about eight hours, involved Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers and Chinese Xi'an H-6k strategic bombers.caspianpost+3

Broader Context

China and Russia have conducted joint air patrols annually since the first such mission in July 2019. The frequency and scope of these operations have increased over time, with a July 2024 patrol entering the U.S. Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone for the first time. The patrols are part of a broader pattern of deepening military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, which both governments frame as routine and not directed at any third country.thediplomat+3