Japan and South Korea scrambled fighter jets on Saturday, June 27, 2026, after more than 10 Chinese and Russian military aircraft conducted a joint patrol that entered South Korea's air defense identification zone.
The joint operation marked the first such patrol of the year, spanning across the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the western Pacific.
>>> Competing Shipping Corridors Stymie Strait of Hormuz Maritime Traffic
Patrol Details
According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the aircraft sequentially entered and exited the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) over the East Sea and waters south of the Korean Peninsula.
South Korean authorities confirmed that no sovereign airspace was violated during the flights.
"Our military identified the Chinese and Russian aircraft before they entered the KADIZ and deployed Air Force fighter jets to take tactical measures in preparation for possible contingencies," the JCS said.
>>> New Zealand Dominates England on Day Four of Deciding Third Test at Trent Bridge
A JCS official noted that the flight activity appeared linked to a joint Chinese-Russian air exercise.
Japan's defense ministry separately tracked the fleet, identifying Chinese H-6 bombers and J-16 fighter jets alongside Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers, Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft, and a Su-30 fighter.
Tokyo reported that several aircraft traversed the Miyako Strait, a critical passage between Okinawa and the Miyako Islands connecting the East China Sea to the western Pacific.
>>> Collin Veijer Qualifies 14th for Dutch Moto2 Race at Assen
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force stated that the patrols demonstrated the cooperative capability of both nations to preserve regional stability.
