USFK F‑16 Flight Over Yellow Sea Provokes Brief Chinese Jet Scramble, No Clash
Updated (2 articles)
Exercise Launch and Flight Path Late Wednesday, 20 February 2026, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) dispatched several F‑16 fighters from Osan Air Base, located about 60 km south of Seoul, into the international waters of the Yellow Sea. The aircraft flew between South Korea’s and China’s air‑defense identification zones (ADIZ), a maneuver described by military sources as part of a “rare” U.S. Air Force drill [1][2]. USFK notified the South Korean defense ministry of the planned flight in advance but did not disclose the exercise’s objective.
Chinese Response and Standoff The incursion prompted the People’s Liberation Army Air Force to scramble fighter jets that entered the same sector of the Yellow Sea. Both sides maintained a brief aerial standoff without any hostile engagement, and the encounter concluded without incident [1][2]. No aircraft were reported damaged or shot down, and the situation de‑escalated within minutes.
Notification and Secrecy While USFK warned Seoul of the operation, the South Korean ministry of defense said it could not verify the specific details of the drill, emphasizing only that the combined defense posture remains strong [1][2]. USFK offered no comment on the incident, and the ministries of both nations declined to provide further information about the mission’s purpose.
Strategic Context and Leadership Remarks The exercise aligns with the U.S. National Defense Strategy released in January 2026, which calls for allies like South Korea to assume greater deterrence responsibilities against both North Korean and Chinese threats [1][2]. USFK commander Gen. Xavier Brunson highlighted “flexibility” and referenced a “bubble perimeter” map unveiled on 17 November 2025, illustrating forces already positioned inside a potential crisis zone.
Sources
-
1.
Yonhap: USFK F‑16 Exercise Triggers Brief Chinese Fighter Jet Response Over Yellow Sea: reports the February 20 2026 flight, Chinese scramble, lack of clash, and links the drill to a broader U.S. shift toward ally‑led China deterrence .
-
2.
Yonhap: USFK and Chinese Jets Briefly Face Off Over Yellow Sea: details the same February 20 2026 incident, noting the flight path between ADIZs, secrecy of drill purpose, and strategic messaging from Gen. Xavier Brunson .
Related Tickers
Timeline
Nov 17, 2025 – Gen. Xavier Brunson presents an east‑up map that places U.S. forces inside a “bubble perimeter” that would need to be breached in a crisis, emphasizing a flexible, adaptable posture for USFK [2].
Jan 2026 – The United States releases its new National Defense Strategy, urging allies such as South Korea to assume primary deterrence against North Korea and to share the burden of countering Chinese threats, signaling a shift toward ally‑led China deterrence [1].
Feb 19, 2026 – Late Wednesday, USFK F‑16s launch from Osan Air Base, fly 60 km south of Seoul into international waters of the Yellow Sea between South Korean and Chinese ADIZs, prompting a rapid Chinese fighter‑jet scramble; the encounter remains brief and non‑violent [1][2].
Feb 19, 2026 – USFK notifies the South Korean defense ministry of the flight in advance but withholds the drill’s purpose; a ministry official says, “The USFK, alongside our military, maintains a powerful combined defense posture,” while noting they cannot confirm specific operations [1].
Feb 19, 2026 – USFK issues no comment on the aerial standoff, leaving the incident officially unaddressed by U.S. forces [1].