Archive · 10 Dec 2025
South Korea, Japan scramble jets over Chinese, Russian planes
On December 9, South Korea and Japan both sent up fighter jets because some Chinese and Russian planes flew into areas near their airspace.
South Korea saw seven Russian planes and two Chinese planes enter their special defence zone, but they didn't actually go into South Korea's airspace.
The planes left after a while, and everything was okay.
Meanwhile, Japan also saw Russian and Chinese planes flying together near their islands.
Japan's defence minister said this was a show of force, which is a concern for their country.
The planes flew together for eight hours.
Both countries were just being careful to make sure everything was safe.
South Korea's military scrambled fighter jets in response to seven Russian and two Chinese military planes entering the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ).
Japan also scrambled jets to monitor Russian and Chinese air forces conducting joint patrols around the country, including two Russian Tu-95 bombers and four Chinese J-16 fighter jets.
The planes did not breach the territorial airspace of either South Korea or Japan, but their presence was seen as a show of force.
Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated that the joint operations were a serious concern for national security.
The Russian-Chinese joint flight near Japan lasted for eight hours, according to Moscow's defence ministry.
- Who
- South Korea's and Japan's military
- What
- Scrambled fighter jets in response to Chinese and Russian military planes entering their air defence zones
- When
- December 9, 2023, at around 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) for South Korea
- Where
- Korea Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) and around Japan
- Why
- To monitor and respond to the presence of foreign military aircraft
- Countries Involved
- South Korea, Japan, China, Russia
- Date
- December 9, 2023
- Time (South Korea)
- 10 a.m. (0100 GMT)
- Number of Russian Planes (South Korea)
- 7
- Number of Chinese Planes (South Korea)
- 2
- Airspace Breach (South Korea)
- No
- Duration of Russian-Chinese Flight (Japan)
- 8 hours
- Japanese Defence Minister
- Shinjiro Koizumi
Sources
South Korea scrambles fighter jets as Chinese, Russian warplanes enter air defence zone
South Korea scrambles fighter jets as Chinese, Russian warplanes enter air defence zone - Telegraph India
Russian bombers join Chinese air patrol near Japan as Tokyo-Beijing tie strains
US criticises Chinese radar incident, says commitment to Japan unwavering
Japan did not aim radar at Chinese jets during Saturday’s incidents, defence minister says
US backs Japan in dispute with China over radar incident
Japan Scrambles Jets Amid Russian-Chinese Joint Patrols Near Territory
China-Japan tensions escalate: Russia joins Chinese jets, South Korea lodges protest - What's happening now
