Posted on : Oct.30,2019 16:39 KST
 |
|
A Chinese military aircraft flying in the Japan air defense identification zone (JADIZ) on Dec. 19, 2017. (Hankyoreh archives)
|
Preliminary notification comes after bilateral strategic defense dialogue in Beijing
|
|
|
A Chinese military aircraft flying in the Japan air defense identification zone (JADIZ) on Dec. 19, 2017. (Hankyoreh archives)
|
On the morning of Oct. 29, a Chinese military aircraft, presumed to be a reconnaissance plane, entered the South Korean air defense identification zone (KADIZ) after notifying the South Korean military of its flight path and purpose. This was the first time that a Chinese military plane has provided such notification before entering KADIZ.
The Chinese used a direct military phone line to notify South Korea about the plane’s KADIZ entry.
“The trust-based relationship between our two militaries prevents us from providing the details. They shared information about the flight path and purpose,” said an official with South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“When the South Korean military took steps to verify an unidentified aircraft approaching KADIZ, we received an answer [from the Chinese],” the official explained.
Until this point, Chinese aircraft haven’t sought permission before entering KADIZ, which China justifies on the grounds that it’s conducting “regular drills” that “aren’t a problem under international law.” It’s uncertain whether this notification means that China now recognizes KADIZ.
A Chinese military aircraft believed to be in the Y-9 series entered KADIZ to the west of Jeju Island at 8:57 am and exited to the east of Ieo Island at 9:31 am. Then the aircraft reentered KADIZ at 12:25 pm and departed at 1:08 pm. The total time that the aircraft spent in KADIZ was 77 minutes. South Korean F-15K and F-16 fighters were dispatched to fly a patrol.
The Chinese aircraft’s preliminary notification of its KADIZ approach followed South Korea and China’s resumption of strategic defense dialogue in Beijing on Oct. 21. The dialogue, which is led by vice minister-level officials from the two countries, had been suspended for five years following the deployment of the US military’s THAAD missile defense system in South Korea.
During the strategic defense dialogue, the two countries agreed to have their defense ministers pay reciprocal visits and increase exchange and to set up more direct phone lines between their respective navies and air forces.
By Noh Ji-won, staff reporter
Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
