China-Russia Joint Air Patrols Prompt Scramble of Jets in Japan and South Korea

South Korea and Japan scrambled fighter jets in response to Chinese and Russian military planes entering their air defence identification zones unannounced during a joint patrol exercise. South Korea lodged a protest with Beijing and Moscow, calling on both countries to take appropriate measures to prevent a recurrence. China's defence ministry said the joint patrol was part of a cooperation plan between Beijing and Moscow and was the sixth such exercise since 2019. The incident highlights the growing military footprint of China in the Asia-Pacific and the need for better communication between Beijing and Washington to avoid a crisis.