Chinese, Russian Bombers Patrol Jointly Over Sea of Japan, Seoul Scrambles Jets

Two Russian and four Chinese strategic bombers today conducted joint patrols over the Sea of ​​Japan and the East China Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"An air group consisting of two strategic bombers Tu-95MS of the Russian Aerospace Forces and four strategic bombers Hun-6K of the PLA Air Force carried out aerial patrols over the waters of the Japanese and East China Seas," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

South Korea scrambled fighter jets Tuesday to warn Chinese and Russian warplanes that had entered its air defense identification zone (ADIZ). But the warplanes did not fly into South Korea’s territorial airspace, its MoD said.

"During the fulfillment of the missions, the aircraft of both countries acted strictly in accordance with the provisions of international law. Violations of the airspace of foreign states were not allowed," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Russian military announced that this is the second joint patrol by long-range aviation aircraft of the Russian Federation and China in the Asia-Pacific region. The earlier joint patrol took place on July 23, 2019.

The  South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff  (JCS) said four Chinese military aircraft flew in the morning near Leodo, a submerged rock to the south of the peninsula that carries a weather research station and has been the subject of a territorial dispute. Two of them made their way out of the zone through the East Sea between South Korea and Japan.

Later, 15 Russian military aircraft flew from north and over the East Sea. They flew back and forth into the zone over the East Sea before heading northeast, according to the JCS.

The JCS said China and Russia might have been holding joint drills, adding that Beijing had informed Seoul in advance of the exercises.