DefenseChina’s J-20 Stealth Fighter Allegedly Flew Through Tsushima Strait Undetected
China’s J-20 stealth fighter reportedly conducted a patrol over the Tsushima Strait — a highly sensitive corridor between South Korea and Japan — without being detected by either nation’s radar systems.
The claim stems from a recent segment aired by state broadcaster CCTV, highlighting the missions of the First Fighter Brigade from the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
While the program did not explicitly name the aircraft, it featured continuous footage of the J-20 and referenced patrols over the Bashi Channel and Tsushima Strait — strongly implying the jet’s involvement.
The Tsushima Strait is considered one of the most heavily surveilled airspaces in the region, monitored by advanced radar systems operated by Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. military, including the THAAD system. Neither Tokyo nor Seoul has acknowledged any recent incursion by a foreign stealth aircraft.
If validated, the flight would mark a significant milestone for the PLAAF, showcasing both the operational reach and the low-observability performance of the J-20 — and highlighting challenges for regional air defense systems in detecting next-generation threats.
The PLAAF is believed to already have several hundred J-20 fighters in service, including the new two-seat J-20S variant.
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