JAPAN has accused Chinese fighter jets of targeting Japanese military aircraft with fire-control radar in two separate incidents near the Okinawa islands over the weekend, actions that Tokyo described as “dangerous” and a serious threat to regional stability.
Reuters reported Japan’s Defence Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, stating on Sunday that the radar illuminations exceeded what was required for safe flight and announced that Japan has lodged a formal protest with China.
“These radar illuminations went beyond what is necessary for the safe flight of aircraft,” Koizumi wrote, adding that Tokyo would respond “resolutely and calmly” to ensure peace and security in the region.
The incidents, which occurred amid already strained relations over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comments regarding Taiwan, mark the most serious military encounters between the two nations in years.
Beijing denied the accusations. Colonel Wang Xuemeng, a Chinese navy spokesperson, said Japanese aircraft had repeatedly approached and disrupted Chinese carrier-based training east of the Miyako Strait.
“We solemnly demand that the Japanese side immediately stop slandering and smearing and strictly restrain front-line actions,” Wang said, warning that the Chinese Navy would take necessary measures to defend its security and legitimate interests.
The incidents follow escalating tensions over Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. Koizumi met with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles in Tokyo to discuss regional security, with Marles stating,
“We are deeply concerned by the actions of China in the last 24 hours. We will continue to work with Japan and stand with Japan in upholding that rules-based order.”
Japan said the Chinese jets involved were J-15s launched from the Liaoning aircraft carrier, which was manoeuvring south of Okinawa alongside three missile destroyers. Japan scrambled F-15 fighters in response.
Fire-control radar directed at another aircraft is widely regarded as a threatening act, as it signals the potential for attack and may force evasive manoeuvres.
Tokyo has not confirmed whether the Chinese planes locked onto its fighters.
Relations between China and Japan have deteriorated sharply in the past month after Takaichi warned that Japan could intervene if Chinese military action against Taiwan also threatened Japanese security.
Beijing recently issued advisories discouraging its citizens from travelling to Japan and paused plans to resume seafood imports following the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant.
The broader regional context is tense, with China maintaining a heavy naval and coast guard presence in East Asian waters, while Japan hosts a significant U.S. military presence in Okinawa, including warships, aircraft, and thousands of Marines.
Taiwan has reported monitoring Chinese drills in the Taiwan Strait but described the situation as “normal,” dismissing Chinese statements about the exercises as “misleading and false wording” intended for psychological operations.
The escalating incidents underscore the fragility of security in the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait, where territorial claims and strategic interests continue to heighten the risk of miscalculation between major regional powers. - December 7, 2025
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