Russia, Japan, South Korea, China fighter jets in complex East Asia stand-off

Tensions in East Asia escalated on Tuesday after Russia, Japan, South Korea and China deployed fighter jets to the Sea of Japan – also known as the East Sea – prompting Seoul to fire hundreds of warning shots amid protests and denials among three of the nations involved.

South Korea and Japan accused Russia of violating their airspace after Russian A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft entered airspace claimed by both Seoul and Tokyo. But Russia denied the allegations, saying it was merely conducting its first-ever patrol with China, over the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan.

The day of regional tensions began early on Tuesday when South Korea’s defence ministry said its jets fired 360 warning shots after the Russian bomber flew over the Dokdo islets, called Takeshima by Japan, which also claims them.

Three Russian military planes – two Tu-95 bombers and one A-50 aircraft – initially entered South Korea’s air defence identification zone off its east coast before the A-50 plane entered the country’s territorial skies, South Korea’s defence ministry said.

The Russian plane left the area but later returned, South Korea said. Adding to the complexity of the situation, two Russian Tu-95 bombers and two Chinese warplanes also entered South Korea’s air defence identification zone on Tuesday. In response, South Korea summoned Russian and Chinese diplomats to lodge a protest.