South Korean Defense Minister Files Formal Protest After US‑China Jet Standoff Over Yellow Sea
Updated (10 articles)
USFK F‑16 drill triggers Chinese scramble in international waters On Wednesday, Feb 20, U.S. Forces Korea launched a training sortie of roughly ten F‑16 fighters from Osan Air Base, flying into the Yellow Sea between South Korea’s and China’s air‑defence identification zones. Chinese fighter jets scrambled to the area, creating a brief aerial standoff that ended without any hostile engagement [2][3][4]. USFK informed the South Korean defense ministry of the flight in advance but did not disclose the exercise’s purpose, a detail both ministries declined to elaborate on [1][3][4].
South Korean senior officials lodge formal complaints Defense Minister Ahn Gyu‑back called Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of USFK and the Combined Forces Command, on Feb 21 to deliver a formal protest about the incident [1]. Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Jin Young‑sung placed a separate call to Brunson, echoing the ministry’s concerns and reinforcing the protest [1]. Both officials emphasized the need for clearer coordination on operations that intersect South Korean and Chinese airspace.
USFK’s lack of drill details raises coordination questions South Korean officials noted that while USFK warned the national military of the upcoming exercise, it omitted specifics such as the drill’s objectives, prompting criticism of the alliance’s communication practices [1][3][4]. USFK declined to comment publicly on the encounter, and a ministry spokesperson said the combined defense posture remains strong but could not verify the exact nature of the U.S. operation [3][4]. The incident occurs as the U.S. National Defense Strategy encourages allies to assume greater responsibility for regional deterrence, a shift highlighted by Gen. Brunson’s “bubble perimeter” concept [3][4].
Regional security implications underscore heightened US‑China tension The brief standoff illustrates the growing frequency of U.S. and Chinese military interactions near contested airspace, reflecting broader strategic competition in the Indo‑Pacific. South Korean leadership’s protests signal a desire for more transparent joint operations to avoid inadvertent escalation, while the United States continues to adjust USFK’s role toward counter‑China deterrence [3][4].
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: South Korean Defense Minister Protests USFK Over China Jet Standoff – Details Ahn Gyu‑back’s protest call to Gen. Brunson and Joint Chiefs chairman Jin Young‑sung’s parallel complaint, highlighting coordination gaps .
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2.
Yonhap: Yonhap News Friday Roundup: Loan Review, Aerial Standoff, Record Stock Opening, North Korean Party Congress, Gaza Peace Board – Summarizes the same aerial standoff, noting U.S. F‑16s over the Yellow Sea and Chinese response .
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3.
Yonhap: USFK F‑16 Exercise Triggers Brief Chinese Fighter Jet Response Over Yellow Sea – Emphasizes USFK’s advance warning without drill purpose and the U.S. strategic shift toward ally‑led deterrence .
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4.
Yonhap: USFK and Chinese Jets Briefly Face Off Over Yellow Sea – Focuses on the flight path between ADIZs, the secrecy of the drill’s aim, and Gen. Brunson’s “bubble perimeter” flexibility concept .
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Timeline
Since 2019 – Chinese and Russian aircraft begin a pattern of entering South Korea’s air‑defence identification zone (KADIZ) once or twice a year during joint exercises, with an 11‑plane incursion recorded in November 2024, underscoring a recurring challenge to Seoul’s air‑space monitoring. [7]
Mar 2025 – Seoul scrambles fighter jets after several Russian warplanes fly into the KADIZ, marking a notable escalation in aerial vigilance and prompting a brief tactical response. [1]
Dec 9, 2025 – Two Chinese and seven Russian military aircraft briefly enter South Korea’s KADIZ over waters east and south of the peninsula, remain for about an hour, and withdraw without breaching sovereign airspace; the Joint Chiefs of Staff dispatches Air Force fighters as a precautionary measure. [7]
Dec 10, 2025 – South Korea lodges formal protests with China and Russia, condemning the incursion, stating it will respond lawfully under international law, and noting the aircraft entered KADIZ near Ulleung Island, Dokdo, and Ieodo but did not violate airspace. [1][6]
Nov 17, 2025 – USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson unveils a “bubble‑perimeter” map, emphasizing a flexible, ally‑led deterrence posture and illustrating forces already positioned inside a potential crisis zone. [5]
Nov 2025 – The United States releases its National Defense Strategy, calling for allies such as South Korea to assume primary deterrence responsibilities against China and to share the regional security burden. [4]
Feb 20, 2026 – USFK conducts a training flight of roughly ten F‑16 fighters from Osan Air Base over international waters of the Yellow Sea, flying between South Korean and Chinese ADIZs; Chinese jets scramble in response, but the encounter remains brief and non‑violent. [4][5]
Feb 20, 2026 – President Lee Jae Myung orders a review of multi‑home loan extension rules, citing fairness concerns amid tight lending conditions in Seoul’s metropolitan area. [3]
Feb 20, 2026 – North Korea convenes its Ninth Workers’ Party Congress, the first in five years, expected to set major policy directions on defense and the economy. [3]
Feb 20, 2026 – South Korea joins the inaugural Trump‑proposed Gaza Peace Board as an observer, reaffirming Seoul’s support for the U.S. peace initiative. [3]
Feb 20, 2026 – The Korea Composite Stock Price Index opens above 5,700, rising 0.81 % to 5,723.11 despite global market jitters, reflecting domestic investor confidence. [3]
Feb 21, 2026 – Defense Minister Ahn Gyu‑back files a formal protest with USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson over the February 20 aerial standoff, demanding better coordination and disclosure of drill purposes; Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Jin‑young‑sung also lodges a protest. [2]
All related articles (10 articles)
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Yonhap: South Korean Defense Minister Protests USFK Over China Jet Standoff
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Yonhap: Yonhap News Friday Roundup: Loan Review, Aerial Standoff, Record Stock Opening, North Korean Party Congress, Gaza Peace Board
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Yonhap: USFK F‑16 Exercise Triggers Brief Chinese Fighter Jet Response Over Yellow Sea
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Yonhap: USFK and Chinese Jets Briefly Face Off Over Yellow Sea
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BBC: South Korea protests Chinese and Russian warplanes entering its air defence zone
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Yonhap: S. Korea protests to China and Russia over jets entering KADIZ
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Yonhap: Nine Chinese and Russian aircraft briefly enter South Korea's KADIZ, JCS says
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Yonhap: Nine Chinese, Russian aircraft briefly enter South Korea's air defense zone
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Yonhap: Nine Chinese and Russian aircraft briefly enter South Korea's KADIZ, JCS says
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Yonhap: 9 Chinese, Russian military aircraft briefly enter S. Korea's air defense zone: JCS