South Korea scrambles fighter jets as Chinese, Russian warplanes enter air defence zone

South Korea scrambled fighter jets on Saturday after more than 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft entered its air defense identification zone (ADIZ), prompting precautionary measures amid heightened regional tensions. The South Korean military detected the aircraft before they entered the zone and deployed its air force to prepare for any contingency, according to the joint chiefs of staff in Seoul.

Neither China nor Russia has yet commented on the incident. This latest development mirrors a similar episode in December 2025, when nine Chinese and Russian military aircraft intruded into the KADIZ. That incursion drew sharp protests from both South Korea and Japan, with Seoul lodging formal complaints with Beijing and Moscow, and Tokyo expressing "serious concern" over regional security.

Following the 2025 incident, China and Russia stated that the flights were part of a joint strategic air patrol over the East Sea and the western Pacific. Saturday's operation occurs amid ongoing military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, evidenced by several joint air and naval patrols conducted in the region in recent years. The repeated incursions highlight persistent tensions and the complex geopolitical dynamics in Northeast Asia.