Japan expresses anger over Chinese military aircraft targeting Japanese jets with radar

TOKYO Japan announced early Sunday that it has officially protested to China following an incident in which a Chinese fighter jet from the carrier Liaoning locked its radar onto Japanese jets near Okinawa, escalating tensions between the two nations amid recent diplomatic strains over remarks by Japans leader on Taiwan.

According to Japans Defense Ministry, the Chinese J-15 aircraft intermittently targeted the radar of Japanese F-15 fighters on two separate occasions on Saturday first for approximately three minutes in the late afternoon, and later for around 30 minutes in the evening. Japanese fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft, but there was no violation of Japanese airspace, and no injuries or damage occurred.

It remains unclear whether the same Chinese J-15 was involved in both radar lock incidents. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, speaking to reporters early Sunday, described the radar targeting as a dangerous act exceeding what is necessary for safe flight operations and stated that Japan had submitted a formal protest to China, demanding measures to prevent future occurrences.

This event adds to the recent deterioration of China-Japan relations. The tension follows comments by Japans Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in early November, suggesting that Japan might intervene if China acted against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing considers part of its territory.

The Liaoning aircraft carrier passed between Okinawas main island and Miyako Island on Saturday while conducting aircraft launch and recovery drills in the Pacific. Japanese F-15s, maintaining a safe distance and avoiding provocative actions, monitored the Chinese jets, according to defense officials cited by Kyodo News.

Fighter jets use radar for general search or fire control ahead of potential missile deployment. This is believed to be the first radar lock incident involving Japanese and Chinese military aircraft. Previously, in 2013, a Chinese warship locked its radar on a Japanese destroyer.

Author: Harper Simmons