🔗 Share this article

Japan's leader, Sanae Takaichi, committed to respond "in a composed yet firm manner" following claims that Chinese military aircraft locked their radar onto Japanese F-15s south-east of the main island during the past weekend.

An Dangerous Aerial Encounter Reported

As stated by Japan's Ministry of Defense, Chinese J-15 fighter aircraft operating from the carrier Liaoning engaged their targeting radar on Japan's F-15s on two occasions last Saturday. The first incident took place at 1632 hours and was repeated about two hours. The ministry noted that a visual sighting was not possible due to the range involved, adding that there was no damage or casualties were reported.

"This was an unprecedented instance the Japanese Ministry of Defense has disclosed such an incident," one news agency noted. Military aircraft commonly use radar to target identification.

Diplomatic Protest and Denials

Reacting to the allegations, China's military released a declaration dismissing the report as "completely inconsistent with reality." The statement demanded Tokyo to "cease making false accusations." Conversely, China asserted that Japan's SDF aircraft had "seriously endangered flight safety" by consistently flying near its training zones. The Chinese statement did not mention a radar lock-on.

A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry later called on Japan to "immediately stop its dangerous moves of interfering with our routine military exercise and training."

Escalating Strains and Regional Context

Ties between China and Japan have worsened significantly over the past month. This cooling followed PM Takaichi remarked that an attack on Taiwan might trigger the deployment of Japanese military if such a conflict posed an existential threat to the nation.

She argued that Tokyo could invoke its right to collective self-defence, meaning coming to the aid of an ally. She stated that her country had to "anticipate a worst-case scenario" regarding the Taiwan Strait.

Japan's defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, described Saturday's radar incident as "highly risky and deeply unfortunate." In a diplomatic move, China's envoy to Japan, Wu Jianghao, was called in on Sunday.

A senior vice minister for foreign affairs, Funakoshi Takehiro, lodged a "formal complaint" and urged the Chinese government to "ensure that such acts do not recur."

Enduring Points of Contention

Japan and China have a long-running territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands, which are known as the Diaoyu in China. These small, unoccupied islets are situated in waters between Okinawa and Taiwan.

Furthermore, broader geopolitical tensions continue. Japan is deepening military and strategic ties with the US and other allies in the Asia-Pacific region, a region where a number of countries have their own territorial and maritime disputes with Beijing.

Beijing, in turn, asserts vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, a posture that has prompted criticism and legal challenges.