Russia and China Conduct 10th Joint Air Patrol, Prompting Scrambles from Japan and South Korea

Joint Air Patrol Over East China Sea and Western Pacific

On December 9, 2025, military forces from the Russian Federation and China executed their 10th joint strategic air patrol over international waters, encompassing the East China Sea and the Western Pacific Ocean. This approximately eight-hour mission involved a significant deployment of aircraft from both nations, operating as part of their annual cooperation plan.

The Russian contingent included Tu-95MS strategic bombers, also known as Tu-95 Bear turboprop bombers, alongside an A-50 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft and Su-30 fighter jets. China deployed its H-6 series bombers, with some reports specifically mentioning the H-6K variant, and J-16 fighter aircraft. The patrol route saw the aircraft traverse the Sea of Japan and the Miyako Strait, extending into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Shikoku, Japan.

Regional Responses from Japan and South Korea

The joint air patrol prompted immediate defensive reactions from regional powers. Japan scrambled Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) fighter aircraft, including F-15J fighters from its Southwestern Air Defense Command, to monitor the Russian and Chinese planes. Japan's Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, publicly stated his 'serious concerns' regarding the event, describing the repeated joint flights as an 'expansion and intensification of their military activities around Japan' and a 'show of force' against the nation.

Similarly, South Korea deployed its Air Force fighter jets in response to the presence of the foreign aircraft. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that a total of seven Russian and two Chinese military aircraft entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) around 10:00 a.m. local time. While the aircraft entered the KADIZ, South Korean authorities confirmed that there was no violation of sovereign airspace. South Korea subsequently lodged protests with both China and Russia through diplomatic channels.

Context of Growing Military Cooperation

This latest joint air patrol marks the tenth such exercise conducted by China and Russia since 2019, underscoring a deepening military cooperation between the two nations. The operation aligns with an annual cooperation plan and occurred amidst existing regional tensions, particularly between China and Japan. Notably, the patrol coincided with China's Liaoning aircraft carrier formation conducting far seas training in the Western Pacific, suggesting a coordinated display of military presence in the region.