South Korea has lodged a formal complaint with Chinese and Russian defense officials in Seoul after their military aircraft entered its Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) without prior notice on Tuesday.
The South Korean military scrambled fighter jets in response to what it called a “joint patrol” by seven Russian and two Chinese warplanes, which “briefly entered” the KADIZ near several sensitive areas, including the disputed islets of Dokdo and the submerged rock of Ieodo. Officials stressed the aircraft did not violate sovereign airspace, but took “tactical measures in preparation for any emergencies.”
“Our military will actively respond to aircraft activities from neighboring countries in the KADIZ in compliance with international law,” the defense ministry stated Wednesday. All aircraft later regrouped near Japan’s Tsushima Island.
China confirmed the exercise, describing it as part of an “annual cooperation plan” with Russia to “address regional challenges and maintain regional peace and stability.” Russia, which does not recognize South Korea’s KADIZ, has previously dismissed such zones as “unilaterally” established and non-binding.
This marks the latest in a series of similar incursions since 2019, often coinciding with joint drills. The incident underscores ongoing regional tensions, particularly in areas like Dokdo—claimed by both South Korea and Japan—and Ieodo, which is contested by Seoul and Beijing.
By James Kisoo
