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Jets scrambled as China and Russia flew together
Summary
A retrospective on the South Korean response to Chinese and Russian military aircraft in its air defence zone, and on a separate deployment to the Central African Republic.
What happened on 22 December 2020, when Chinese and Russian military aircraft appeared together near South Korea? According to South Korea, four Chinese and fifteen Russian military aircraft entered its air defence identification zone, and Seoul scrambled fighter jets in response.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said China had notified it in advance of a joint military exercise between China and Russia. The reports did not describe any further response.
A separate crisis in Africa
A day earlier, on 21 December 2020, Rwanda deployed what it called a "protection force" to the Central African Republic. Its peacekeepers had been attacked by rebel forces advancing on the capital, Bangui.
The Rwandan and Central African Republic governments accused former President François Bozizé of backing the rebels and plotting a coup. He denied the accusation. Russia also sent troops and heavy weaponry to support the government.
