As per news reports, on Thursday, both South Korea and Japan scrambled fighter jets in response to Chinese and Russian military planes entering their respective air defense zones. South Korea's military reported that two Chinese and four Russian aircraft entered the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) off its east coast between 11:53 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. The planes exited the area without violating South Korea's territorial airspace, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
Simultaneously, Japan deployed jets to monitor joint flights by Chinese and Russian bombers and fighters. The aircraft, including China's H-6, J-16, Y-8, and Russia's Tu-95 and Su-35, were observed flying toward the East China Sea through the channel between Japan and South Korea, as reported by Japan's defense ministry.
An Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) allows countries to unilaterally request foreign aircraft to take specific identification measures, distinct from a nation's airspace. Unlike airspace, there are no international laws governing ADIZ. It's notable that Moscow does not recognize Korea's ADIZ, while Beijing contends that the zone is not territorial airspace, asserting that all countries should enjoy freedom of movement within it.
