Japan scrambles jets after Chinese and Russian military aircraft fly near its airspace

Japan's Joint Staff said Chinese and Russian military aircraft flew over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and waters off Shikoku on June 27. Tokyo said it scrambled fighter jets, but did not say the aircraft entered Japanese territorial airspace.

Tokyo, June 28

Japan's Joint Staff said on June 27 that Chinese H-6 bombers flew from the East China Sea toward the Sea of Japan and operated with Russian Tu-95 bombers and Tu-142 patrol aircraft. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Western Air Defense Force and other units scrambled fighter jets in response.

The first flight listed by Japan involved two Chinese H-6 bombers, two Russian Tu-95 bombers and two Russian Tu-142 patrol aircraft. Two Chinese J-16 fighters and one Russian Su-30 fighter were also reported in the area.

Later the same day, two Russian Tu-95 bombers and two Chinese H-6 bombers met over the East China Sea. A flight map released by Japan said the aircraft moved toward southwestern Japan and reached the Pacific side off Shikoku.

Japan's account

The Japanese statement used the term "emergency launch", the standard wording for fighter jets being scrambled. It did not say the Chinese or Russian aircraft entered Japanese territorial airspace, and did not report flares or a higher-level warning.

South Korea's military said the same day that more than 10 Chinese and Russian aircraft entered South Korea's air defense identification zone. Seoul said it deployed fighter jets and took tactical measures, but did not say the aircraft entered South Korean airspace.

Aircraft involved

Japan listed Chinese H-6 bombers and J-16 fighters, as well as Russian Tu-95 bombers, Tu-142 patrol aircraft and Su-30 fighters. The Joint Staff also released flight maps and photographs of the aircraft.

China and Russia have conducted joint air patrols around Northeast Asia and the western Pacific several times since 2019. Japan, South Korea, the United States and Canada have all scrambled or deployed aircraft in response to Chinese and Russian bomber flights in recent years.

Beijing and Moscow have previously described such flights as routine patrols and said they are not aimed at third parties. As of publication, China and Russia had not released an account of the June 27 flight with the same level of detail as Japan.

Japan has not announced whether it lodged a diplomatic representation with China or Russia.

Sources: This article is based on the Japan Joint Staff's June 27 notice on Chinese and Russian military aircraft movements, South Korean military accounts cited in regional reports, and prior reporting on China-Russia joint bomber patrols by The Guardian.