Japan and South Korea have deployed fighter aircraft in reaction to a joint patrol conducted by Russian and Chinese bombers over the Asia-Pacific region on Tuesday, according to the military officials from both nations.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its Tu-95MS strategic bombers, along with China’s H-9 bombers, undertook an eight-hour mission over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the Western Pacific.
The People’s Liberation Army’s official social media platform, China Military Bugle, noted that this marked the 10th joint strategic aerial patrol between Russia and China as part of an annual cooperation initiative.
The Russian Defense Ministry communicated via Telegram that at various points during the flight, the strategic bombers were escorted by fighter jets from other countries, adding that both Russian and Chinese aircraft ensured air cover throughout the course of the patrol.
Following the detection of seven Russian and two Chinese military planes over the Sea of Japan and adjacent southern waters at 10 a.m. local time, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that they had dispatched fighter jets to “execute tactical preparations for potential emergencies.”
They confirmed that there had been no breaches of airspace.
Japan’s Defense Ministry responded in a similar manner, deploying its fighter jets to “thoroughly implement air defense protocols against possible violations of airspace.”
They reported that during parts of the patrol, Chinese J-16 fighters, two Russian Su-30 fighters, and an A-50 early-warning aircraft accompanied the bombers.
Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan’s Defense Minister, stated on X on Wednesday that “These recurring joint bomber missions by Russia and China signify an escalation and expansion of their military operations in proximity to Japan.”
He expressed that these actions clearly represent calculated intimidation towards Japan and pose significant concerns regarding the nation’s national security.
Furthermore, on Wednesday, South Korea’s Defense Ministry announced that it had filed a complaint with Russian and Chinese military attachés regarding the brief incursion of the patrol into South Korea’s air defense identification zone, which extends 12 nautical miles beyond the country’s territorial waters.
Russia does not acknowledge South Korea’s air defense identification zone, which has become a contentious issue between Seoul and Beijing due to overlapping air defense areas.
