South Korea Lodges Complaint Over Warplane Incursions

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: Getty Images

South Korea formally protested to Chinese and Russian defense attaches stationed in Seoul after a group of warplanes briefly entered its air defense identification zone Kadiz, a development that underscores mounting tensions in Northeast Asia's security landscape. In a sequence reflected by the latest military activity, seven Russian and two Chinese aircraft penetrated the Kadiz on Tuesday, prompting Seoul to dispatch fighter jets to bolster readiness and “take tactical measures in preparation for any emergencies.” South Korea’s defense ministry stated that while the aircraft did not cross into its sovereign airspace, their entry into Kadiz triggered a strong retaliatory posture and subsequent diplomatic action.

The episode adds to a pattern of military activity near the Korean Peninsula, where Kadiz is often a focus of regional security calculations. Kadiz differs from sovereign airspace in that it comprises an identification and early warning zone where foreign aircraft must identify themselves and follow instructions, but incursions do not by themselves constitute a violation of territorial airspace under international law. Wednesday’s development saw Seoul lodging an official complaint with the defense attaches, signaling a clear expectation for greater transparency and adherence to established norms during such maneuvers.

The Russian sortie entered Kadiz near Ulleung Island and the Dokdo islets, while Chinese aircraft ventured near Ieodo, a submerged rock claimed by both South Korea and China and included in respective air defense contours. The two sides reportedly regrouped in the area above the East China Sea, not far from Japan’s Tsushima Strait, according to South Korean officials. In a statement, South Korea pledged to respond actively to aircraft activities in Kadiz in compliance with international law, while continuing to monitor and evaluate any potential threat to the region.

China acknowledged conducting a joint patrol with Russia in the East China Sea and Western Pacific airspace as part of an annual cooperation plan designed to address regional challenges and foster stability. The exercise marks another instance in which China and Russia have traversed Kadiz in a coordinated display of military presence, prompting ongoing debates about signaling, deterrence, and diplomatic channels in an increasingly complex security environment. Analysts note that Moscow does not recognize Kadiz as a legitimate constraint on foreign military operations, arguing that it is a unilateral regime lacking binding legal force.