South Korea Scrambles Jets as Russian, Chinese Planes Infiltrate Air Defence Zone

South Korea's military sprang into action on Tuesday, deploying fighter jets in response to the sudden appearance of seven Russian and two Chinese military aircraft within its air defence zone. The planes, which entered the zone around 10 AM local time, flew in and out for approximately an hour before departing. According to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff, none of the aircraft breached South Korean airspace. However, the incident marks the latest in a series of similar incidents, with China and Russia regularly flying military planes through the zone without prior notice since 2019. These incidents have raised concerns about the intentions of Beijing and Moscow, particularly given their expanding military ties and their historical alliance with North Korea, South Korea's long-time adversary. While describing these flights as 'joint strategic air patrols', China and Russia cite joint exercises as the reason for these incursions. The latest incident comes as tensions between South Korea and its neighbours continue to simmer. In recent years, Seoul has scrambled jets on multiple occasions in response to similar aircraft incursions, with the most recent incidents occurring in June and December of this year, as well as in May and November 2022.