In the Far East inflames the new military-political scandal - South Korea and Japan are concerned about the joint flight of Russian and Chinese military aircraft over the Sea of Japan. Seoul accused Moscow of violating the airspace of the Republic of Korea, but this conflict has not been settled.
Russian-Chinese Air Patrol scare South Korea and Japan
It all started when, what 23 July jets of air and space forces of Russia and the Air Force of China held their first joint patrols of the airspace. Russia was represented by two bombers Tu-95MS, China - the two "Hong-6K" (a modified Soviet Tu-16).
organization of joint patrols were undertaken by Russia and China to establish cooperation between the two countries to ensure the safety and protection of national interests in the Asia-Pacific region. The last time our joint actions with the Chinese Air Force carried out in the distant 1950s, when the Soviet Union and China has been the closest allies, "Band of Brothers" in the Korean War. Then the relations between the USSR and China deteriorated during the 1960s - 1990s. question of military cooperation between the two states did not go.
Even after the, as the relations between the two countries were normalized, Russian armed forces have conducted joint exercises with the People's Liberation Army of China, but on patrol forces immediately and Russian, and Chinese military aircraft were not discussed.
Naturally, that the joint actions of the Russian and Chinese aircraft in the skies over the Sea of Japan caused a very strong reaction from the neighboring countries - the Republic of Korea and Japan. South Koreans are the first to react. when two Tu-95MS bombers carried out a planned flight over the Sea of Japan, considered neutral, in the sky over Dokdo (Takeshima) there were two F-16 fighter the Air Force of the Republic of Korea, who committed maneuvers and flares shot out toward the Russian aircraft. Thereby, both considered later in the Ministry of Defense of Russia, threat to the security of the Russian strategic missile was created.
But South Koreans demarche of their fighters were not satisfied. Seoul has accused Russia of violating its airspace. Official strong protest was expressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Ambassador of the Russian Federation Maxim Volkov and Chinese Ambassador Qiu Guohong. The South Korean Foreign Ministry demanded to prevent similar actions in the future on the part of Russia and China.
Followed by South Korea "tense" and Japan. note, that if in Seoul consider Dokdo its territory, in Tokyo are convinced - the islands are rightly Japanese. Therefore, the Japanese authorities have found it necessary to express Russia and China indignation flights of Russian and Chinese aircraft, at the same time pointing and South Korea on the "true" ownership of islands.
Japan should take measures against the Russian aircraft, which intrudes into our airspace. unacceptably, South Korea takes steps in this direction,
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Taro Kono.
Defense Ministry: action South Korea - "air hooliganism"
In Moscow, handed a note to the military attaché of the Republic of Korea in Russia: Russian Ministry of Defense considered the action of South Korean fighter "air hooliganism".
Besides, Russia stresses, that the aircraft did not enter the airspace of South Korea and Japan, and that, that these countries have created TN. "Marking zone" neutral airspace, so compliance with the boundaries of these zones is not mandatory, zone is not legitimized by international law.
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Russian military experts believe, that the South Korean air force carried out "air hooliganism". So, Honored Military Pilot, Major General Vladimir Popov told "Izvestia", that the interceptions were not carried out over the last thirty years, even if the aircraft and came to the borders of another state.
Fighters then ascend, but only with the aim to detect and identify these aircraft. Aircraft approach with precaution on the allowable distance, to ensure safety,
- Vladimir Popov said.
Behavior of South Korean aircraft against a background of well-established rules, of course, It raises many questions. After all, Kazakhstan Air Force fighters not just up in the air, but had shot flares, demonstrating a willingness to hostilities.
Actually, fear of Japan and South Korea before the flights of Russian and Chinese Air Force is clear and it's not even alleged violation of airspace. Joint patrolling of the airspace showed South Korea and Japan, but mainly to the United States of America, Russia and China have become a real political-military allies and are willing to work together in the Asia-Pacific region.
For Washington, it is - a real nightmare and naturally, Americans immediately reacted to fly through the mouth of its partners - Tokyo and Seoul. notes of protest from the Japanese and South Korean diplomatic offices - only the first "test" step, obviously, that in the future the two states with the US submission will try by all means to prevent the joint actions of Russia and China in the Far East.
"Identification zone" and "South Korean Kurils"
Liancourt Rocks, also known as Dokdo or Takeshima, located in the western part of the Sea of Japan, 37 ° 14'30″ north latitude and 131 ° 52 'E.. Basically, they can be called "South Korean Kuriles". 22 February 1905 of the year, shortly before the complete annexation of the Korean Peninsula, Japan announced Dokdo ("Lonely Island" in Korean) its territory - islands Taeksima ("Bamboo Island"). They were included in the Japanese prefecture of Shimane, rather than the actual Korea.
After the end of World War II and the complete defeat of Japanese islands in the Empire of the Rising Sun took. The Supreme Command of the Allied occupation forces (SCAP) Liancourt Rocks drifted to the territories, which should not be under Japanese rule, and they soon came under the control of South Korea. On the islands of the South Korean garrison was stationed coast guard.
For a long time Japan has not formally filed any complaints about Liancourt Islands, but in 2008 , the country's leadership has recommended to study in the school's territorial disputes with South Korea. Actually, as well as the Southern Kuriles, Liancourt Rocks in Japan are regarded as native Japanese, but at this time occupied by South Korea.
Naturally, South Korea to such imperial ambitions Tokyo react very painful. Therefore, as soon as the Russian and Chinese aircraft conducted air patrols, not only Russia and China have received complaints from South Korean and Japanese. Tokyo and Seoul immediately and began to accuse each other in contempt.
In the interests of security of its borders the Republic of Korea established TN. "Marking zone" or identifying VOP zone, which go beyond the boundaries of their own airspace of RK. In international law, the existence of such areas is not provided, so the South Korean "identification zone" has no official status.
Respectively, they are not the air space of South Korea and the Russian and Chinese aircraft neighboring state borders are not violated. But in Seoul, of course, a different opinion. The proximity of such great powers as Russia and China, and South Korea forces, and Japan to be extremely careful and very sensitive to any military maneuvers and weapons testing in the Asia-Pacific region.
Russian-Chinese alliance and US interests in the Far East
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It is not excluded, that the joint Russian-Chinese missions were carried out with the aim of "probing" the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and study the reaction of neighboring states. And it is the reaction of South Korea and Japan, and was interested to Moscow and Beijing. properly, Only these two countries in the region are under the total influence of the US and actually put into practice only that military policy, which is favorable to Washington.
known, that in recent years the United States has seriously stepped up its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Such a war policy States fits into the overall strategy of the geopolitical and economic confrontation with China, which in the US is considered as the main competitor and the most dangerous enemy.
I am going to confront China in the Pacific Ocean, US intends to create an "anti-Chinese" front of the Asian, who may be concerned about China's growing activity. First of all, is Japan and South Korea as US satellites, from the middle of the twentieth century, completely following the lead of US foreign policy. Secondly, the US anti-China bloc attract Vietnam - despite the historical grievances, Vietnam is also very much concerned about the growing Chinese ambitions, besides, Hanoi, there are long-standing territorial disputes with Beijing.
In its turn, China is working closely with Russia. The interests of our country and China in the Asia-Pacific region, while the same - and most importantly for Beijing, and Moscow is, to prevent the strengthening of the US military presence, military and political influence in the Far East.
In this context, joint patrols may also be regarded as a demonstration of readiness of Russia and China to work together to protect their interests. of course, in the US is well understood, To demonstrate its capabilities, China and Russia - is clearly not in South Korea and Japan.
by the way, Russian-Chinese joint flights can be viewed as a measure of response to the actions of the Americans. for example, just six months ago,, December 2018 of the year, the military base of the US Army arrived in Guam US strategic bombers B-52H Stratofortress. In March 2019 , US bombers carried out a joint with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces military training over the East China Sea. If Japanese and Americans can, Why not Russian and Chinese?
On the other hand, to a serious deterioration of relations with South Korea or Japan, the incident in the skies over the Sea of Japan will not lead. In this there is no doubt, because now Russia has close economic ties with both states.
But economics economy, and in matters of national security and Russia, and China, and Japan, and South Korea are concerned primarily for its strategic interests. And if we are the same now with the Chinese, that South Korea and Japan, for all their mutual grievances and disputes, played on the United States side. Likely, namely "overseas puppeteers" and stand behind the demonstrative actions of Seoul and ambitious statements Tokyo.
Ilya Polonsky
