Japan's Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has pledged a "calm and resolute" response following a serious aerial incident over the weekend, where Chinese military aircraft were accused of locking their fire-control radar onto Japanese fighter jets. The event has significantly heightened diplomatic and military tensions between the two Asian powers.
Details of the Aerial Encounter
According to Japan's Ministry of Defence, the incident occurred southeast of Okinawa's main island on Saturday. Chinese J-15 fighter jets, operating from the aircraft carrier Liaoning, reportedly directed their targeting radar at Japanese Air Self-Defence Force F-15 fighters on two separate occasions. The first radar lock occurred at 4:32 pm, with a second incident following approximately two hours later.
The ministry stated that visual confirmation was impossible due to the distances involved but confirmed that no damage or injuries resulted from the encounters. This marks the first official disclosure of such an incident by Japan's defence authorities, as reported by the Kyodo news agency. Fighter jets use radar lock-ons to identify and track potential targets, a move considered highly provocative and a precursor to potential weapons engagement.
Diplomatic Fallout and Conflicting Claims
In response, Japan's Vice-Foreign Minister, Funakoshi Takehiro, summoned China's Ambassador, Wu Jianghao, on Sunday afternoon to lodge a "strong protest." The foreign ministry described the acts as "dangerous and extremely regrettable" and urged Beijing to prevent any recurrence.
China has vehemently denied Japan's account. The Chinese navy stated the claim was "completely inconsistent with the facts" and accused Tokyo of slander. In a separate statement via the Xinhua news agency, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson countered that Japanese SDF aircraft had "seriously endangered flight safety" by repeatedly approaching Chinese training zones, urging Japan to stop its "dangerous moves." The Chinese response did not address the specific allegation of a radar lock-on.
Broader Context of Rising Tensions
This incident occurs against a backdrop of rapidly deteriorating relations. Tensions have been particularly strained since Prime Minister Takaichi suggested last month that an attack on Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response if the conflict threatened Japan's existential security. She argued that Tokyo must prepare for a "worst-case scenario" in the Taiwan Strait, a comment that prompted former US President Donald Trump to counsel de-escalation.
The longstanding territorial dispute over the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands continues to simmer. These uninhabited islets, located between Okinawa and Taiwan, are claimed by both nations. Furthermore, Japan is deepening security cooperation with US allies across the Asia-Pacific region, where several nations, including Japan, have ongoing maritime disputes with an increasingly assertive China.
Japan's Defence Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, labelled Saturday's event as "dangerous and extremely regrettable." Prime Minister Takaichi affirmed that Japan would take all possible measures to enhance surveillance of its air and maritime domains and monitor Chinese military activities closely, signalling a firm stance amid the escalating strategic rivalry.
