South Korea deployed fighter jets on Tuesday in response to the entry of seven Russian and two Chinese military aircraft into its Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ). Although the planes did not breach South Korean airspace, their presence prompted Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff to take tactical measures. This incident is part of a pattern, as China and Russia have increasingly conducted joint military flights into the KADIZ since 2019, citing ongoing cooperative drills. The growing military collaboration between China and Russia, particularly in the context of their strategic partnership and shared interests in the region, poses challenges for South Korea’s security and highlights the shifting dynamics in the Asia-Pacific geopolitical landscape.