SEOUL: South Korea and Japan reacted furiously on Wednesday after Chinese and Russian military aircraft conducted joint patrols around the two countries, with both Seoul and Tokyo scrambling jets.&nbsp;South Korea said it had lodged a protest with representatives of China and Russia, while Japan said it had conveyed its &quot;serious concerns&quot; over national security.&nbsp;According to Tokyo, two Russian Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers on Tuesday flew from the Sea of Japan to rendezvous with two Chinese H-6 bombers in the East China Sea, then conducted a joint flight around the country.&nbsp;The incident comes as Japan is locked in a dispute with China over comments Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made about Taiwan.&nbsp;The bombers&#39; joint flights were &quot;clearly intended as a show of force against our nation&quot;, defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi wrote on X Wednesday.&nbsp;Top government spokesman Minoru Kihara said that Tokyo had &quot;conveyed to both China and Russia our serious concerns over our national security through diplomatic channels&quot;.&nbsp;Seoul said Tuesday the Russian and Chinese warplanes entered its air defence zone and that a complaint had been lodged with the defence attaches of both countries in the South Korean capital.&nbsp;&quot;Our military will continue to respond actively to the activities of neighbouring countries&#39; aircraft within the KADIZ in compliance with international law,&quot; said Lee Kwang-suk, director general of the International Policy Bureau at Seoul&#39;s defence ministry, referring to the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone.&nbsp;South Korea also said it deployed &quot;fighter jets to take tactical measures in preparation for any contingencies&quot; in response to the Chinese and Russian incursion into the KADIZ.&nbsp;The planes were spotted before they entered the air defense identification zone, defined as a broader area in which countries police aircraft for security reasons but which does not constitute their airspace.&nbsp;Japan&#39;s defense ministry also scrambled fighter jets to intercept the warplanes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Routine exerciseBeijing later Tuesday confirmed it had organized drills with Russia&#39;s military according to &quot;annual cooperation plans&quot;.&nbsp;Moscow also described it as a routine exercise, saying it lasted eight hours and that some foreign fighter jets followed the Russian and Chinese aircraft.&nbsp;Since 2019 China and Russia have regularly flown military aircraft into South Korea&#39;s air defence zone without prior notice, citing joint exercises.&nbsp;In November last year Seoul scrambled jets as five Chinese and six Russian military planes flew through its air defence zone.&nbsp;Similar incidents occurred in June and December 2023, and in May and November 2022.&nbsp;Meanwhile Tokyo said Monday it had scrambled jets in response to repeated takeoff and landing exercises involving fighter jets and military helicopters from China&#39;s Liaoning aircraft carrier as it cruised in international waters near Japan.&nbsp;It also summoned Beijing&#39;s ambassador after military aircraft from the Liaoning locked radar onto Japanese jets, the latest incident in the row ignited by Takaichi&#39;s comments backing Taiwan.&nbsp;Takaichi suggested last month that Japan would intervene militarily in any Chinese attack on the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as its own and has not ruled out seizing by force.

Asia

China

South Korea and Japan condemned joint Russian and Chinese military aircraft patrols near their borders, with both countries scrambling jets. The incident, amid rising tensions over Taiwan, sparked diplomatic protests over national security concerns.

South Korea, Japan accuse China, Russia over aircraft incursions

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have started their joint military exercise Warrior-IX, the ninth edition of the annual counterterrorism drills conducted between the two militaries, the military&#39;s media wing&nbsp;said on Tuesday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the exercise, which began on Monday at the National Counter Terrorism Center, Pabbi, focuses on counterterrorism operations and aims to enhance interoperability, improve professional skills, and facilitate the exchange of best practices in modern warfare. ISPR said the Pakistan Army and the People&rsquo;s Liberation Army of China continue to maintain time-tested defence cooperation built on mutual trust and strategic partnership. The Warrior series, it added, reflects the strong military-to-military ties and the shared commitment of both countries to regional peace, stability, and security. The Mangla Corps Commander, along with Major General Bian Xiaoming, Deputy Chief of Staff of the PLA Western Theatre Command, and senior military officials from both sides, attended the opening ceremony.

Security

The exercise focuses on counterterrorism operations and aims to enhance interoperability, improve professional skills and facilitate the exchange of best practices in modern warfare.

Pakistan, China begin Warrior-IX joint military exercise

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China reaffirmed their strategic partnership and explored deeper cooperation in the energy and mineral sectors during a meeting at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday, according to an official statement.&nbsp;The information ministry said Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met China&rsquo;s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, to discuss mutual support, economic collaboration, and a shared commitment to regional stability and prosperity.&nbsp;Malik extended a formal invitation for China to participate in the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum (PMIF) 2026, stressing that the mining sector remains a national priority and offers &ldquo;significant opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation.&rdquo;&nbsp;Ambassador Zaidong welcomed the invitation, stating, &ldquo;We will encourage the heads of our relevant institutions to participate in the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum.&rdquo;&nbsp;He noted that mining remains a key pillar of China-Pakistan collaboration, highlighting the strong presence of Chinese companies in Pakistan&rsquo;s petroleum and mineral sectors, including the Saindak and Siadak projects.&nbsp;Malik reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s support for China, including its stance on China&rsquo;s sovereignty and regional stability.&nbsp;Zaidong praised Pakistan&rsquo;s reform efforts, saying, &ldquo;We are committed to supporting Pakistan&rsquo;s development and will continue to facilitate the economic development of the people of Pakistan through our cooperation.&rdquo;&nbsp;The meeting concluded with both sides expressing a firm commitment to further strengthen their all-weather strategic partnership through increased investment and expanded collaboration in the mining and energy sectors.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan and China reaffirmed their strategic partnership, focusing on energy and mineral cooperation. Both sides discussed economic collaboration, regional stability, and investment opportunities, including the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum 2026, highlighting ongoing Chinese projects in Pakistan.

Pakistan, China deepen energy and mineral cooperation to strengthen strategic partnership

HONG KONG: A cargo aircraft skidded off a Hong Kong runway into the sea when landing early Monday, killing two people. The Emirates flight, arriving from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was landing at Hong Kong International Airport around 3:50 a.m., according to Hong Kong&rsquo;s airport authority. Four crew members on the plane were rescued and taken to a hospital. Initial reports from police said two people in an airport ground vehicle were killed. Emirates said the Boeing 747 freighter flying as EK9788 was wet leased and operated by Turkish cargo carrier Act Airlines. In wet leases, the company supplying the plane also provides the crew, maintenance, and insurance. The airline said there was cargo on board. Local Hong Kong broadcasters showed the aircraft partially submerged just off the edge of the airport&rsquo;s sea wall. The aircraft&rsquo;s front half and cockpit were visible above water, but the tail end appeared to have broken off. The crash occurred on the north runway of Hong Kong&rsquo;s airport, one of Asia&rsquo;s busiest. That runway remained closed, while the two other runways at the airport continue to operate. Hong Kong&#39;s Civil Aviation Department said in a statement it was following up with the airlines and other parties involved in the crash.

A Turkish-operated Emirates cargo plane skidded off Hong Kong’s runway into the sea during landing, killing two airport workers and injuring four crew members, prompting runway closure and an ongoing aviation investigation.

Articles tagged with "china"

South Korea, Japan accuse China, Russia over aircraft incursions

Pakistan, China begin Warrior-IX joint military exercise

Pakistan, China deepen energy and mineral cooperation to strengthen strategic partnership

Cargo aircraft skids off Hong Kong runway into sea, killing 2 people