🔗 Share this article

Japan's leader, Sanae Takaichi, has pledged to act "in a composed yet firm manner" following accusations that People's Liberation Army jets acquired a radar lock on Japan's fighter jets south-east of Okinawa's primary island during the weekend.

An Dangerous Incident Disclosed

As stated by Japan's Ministry of Defense, Chinese J-15 jets from the carrier Liaoning engaged their targeting radar against Japan's F-15s on two occasions last Saturday. This occurred took place at 1632 hours and was repeated approximately two hours. Officials noted that visual confirmation was not possible due to the range involved, and confirmed that no damage or injuries occurred.

"It marked an unprecedented instance Japan's defence ministry has disclosed an event of this nature," a report noted. Fighter jets routinely use radar for search and rescue.

Official Objection and Denials

Reacting to the allegations, China's military released a statement dismissing the report as "completely inconsistent with reality." It demanded Japan to "cease slandering and smearing." Instead, Beijing asserted that Japan's SDF planes had "posed a grave risk to flight safety" by consistently approaching its training zones. Beijing made no reference to a radar lock-on.

A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry subsequently called on Japan to "immediately stop its dangerous moves of harassing our routine drills and exercises."

Escalating Strains and Regional Background

Relations between China and Tokyo have soured significantly in recent weeks. The downturn followed Prime Minister Takaichi stated that hostilities against Taiwan might lead to the dispatch of Japanese Self-Defense Forces should such a conflict posed an existential threat to Japan.

She argued that Japan could invoke its right to collective defense, meaning assisting an ally. She stated that her country had to "anticipate the most severe possibilities" regarding the Taiwan Strait.

Japan's defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, labeled Saturday's encounter as "highly risky and deeply unfortunate." In a diplomatic move, the Chinese ambassador to Japan, Wu Jianghao, was called in the following day.

A senior vice minister for foreign affairs, Funakoshi Takehiro, made a "formal complaint" and urged Beijing to "guarantee that such acts do not recur."

Enduring Points of Contention

Japan and China have a protracted territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands, which are known as the Diaoyu by Beijing. The tiny, unoccupied islets are situated in waters between Okinawa and Taiwan.

Additionally, regional tensions continue. Japan has been strengthening military and strategic ties with American and other partners in the Asia-Pacific area, where several nations are engaged in similar maritime) disputes with Beijing.

China, for its part, maintains vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, activities that has prompted criticism and legal challenges.