Seoul voices concerns as more Chinese military aircraft spread their wings in South Korean air defence zone
- Analysts say flights are symptom of Beijing’s fear that US influence is spreading
- Seoul says incursions into its airspace nearly doubled in number in two years
South Korea has voiced its frustration about repeated intrusions into its air defence identification zone by Chinese military aircraft, moves that analysts say reflect Beijing’s opposition to strengthening ties between Seoul, Tokyo and Washington.
South Korean authorities said a Chinese plane, possibly a Shaanxi Y-9 electronic warfare and surveillance aircraft flew into the Korean zone Monday last week without notice. The plane entered near Socotra Rock in the East China Sea at about 11am and flew out and into Japan’s air defence identification zone about 40 minutes later.
The plane re-entered the South Korean air defence zone, near the southeastern city of Pohang, at about 12.43pm. Then it travelled up to South Korea’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, cutting between the South Korean mainland and Ulleung island.
It was unusual for a Chinese aircraft to have taken that route. The plane was reported to have left the zone at 3.53pm.
Air defence identification zones are not covered by any international treaty and it is standard practice to notify the country concerned before entering its airspace.
The aircraft did not enter South Korean territorial airspace, which under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is defined as 12 nautical miles from shore.