Japan and South Korea scrambled fighter jets to protect their skies after Russia and China conducted joint patrols in the region, intensifying fears of a fresh global conflict . Chinese and Russian bombers and fighter jets flew over the western Pacific Ocean and East China Sea as part of a 10th joint strategic air patrol exercise on Tuesday, according to China's defence ministry.

The aircraft entered South Korea 's air defence zone for an hour, according to the country's official Yonhap news agency, prompting its defence ministry to lodge a diplomatic protest with representatives of China and Russia over the "potential violation".

Japan's defence ministry also described the exercise as a matter of "serious concern for our national security". Both countries deployed their own jets

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