The Japanese Premier Vows a 'Firm' Response Following Radar Lock-On Event Involving China's Fighter Jets.
Japan's leader, Sanae Takaichi, committed to respond "with calm determination" following accusations that People's Liberation Army aircraft acquired a radar lock on Japan's F-15s south-east of the primary island over the weekend.
An Concerning Aerial Encounter Disclosed
Per the Japanese Ministry of Defense, China's J-15 jets from the carrier Liaoning activated their targeting radar against Japan's F-15s twice last Saturday. The first incident took place at 4:32 p.m. and was repeated approximately two hours. The ministry stated that visual confirmation could not be obtained due to the range involved, and confirmed that there was no damage or casualties were reported.
"This was an unprecedented instance the Japanese defence ministry has reported such an incident," one news agency stated. Fighter jets routinely employ radar systems to tracking purposes.
Official Objection and Denials
Reacting to the allegations, the Chinese military issued a statement dismissing them as "totally contrary to reality." The statement urged Japan to "cease slandering and smearing." Instead, China asserted that Japanese Self-Defense Forces planes had "seriously endangered aviation safety" by consistently flying near its training zones. The Chinese statement did not mention a radar lock-on.
An official for the Chinese foreign ministry later called on Tokyo to "halt its provocative actions of harassing our routine drills and exercises."
Escalating Tensions and Broader Background
Ties between Beijing and Tokyo have deteriorated significantly over the past month. The downturn came after PM Takaichi remarked that hostilities against Taiwan might trigger the deployment of Japan's Self-Defense Forces if the situation posed an extreme danger to the nation.
Takaichi insisted that Tokyo had the right to invoke its legal authority to collective self-defence, which involves assisting a partner under attack. She emphasized that Japan had to "prepare for a worst-case scenario" regarding the Taiwan Strait.
The Japanese defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, described Saturday's encounter as "dangerous and extremely regrettable." Subsequently, the Chinese ambassador to Japan, Wu Jianghao, was summoned on Sunday.
Japan's vice minister for foreign affairs, Funakoshi Takehiro, lodged a "strong protest" and urged the Chinese government to "guarantee that similar actions are not repeated."
Longstanding Points of Contention
Japan and China are also locked in a protracted sovereignty disagreement over the islands, which are known as the Diaoyu in China. The tiny, uninhabited islets are situated between Okinawa and Taiwan.
Additionally, broader geopolitical tensions persist. Tokyo is strengthening cooperation with American and its allies in the Asia-Pacific area, where several nations are engaged in similar territorial and maritime disagreements with Beijing.
China, for its part, asserts vast sovereignty claims in adjacent seas, activities that has drawn criticism and legal challenges.