Japan accuses Chinese jets of using fire-control radar against Japanese aircraft

On Saturday, Japanese officials reported that Chinese fighter jets aimed their fire-control radar at Japanese aircraft in international waters near the Okinawan islands during two separate encounters. Japans Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, described the incidents as dangerous and exceeding what is necessary for standard flight safety.

Koizumi confirmed that Japan formally protested to China regarding the regrettable events. Locking an aircraft with fire-control radar is considered highly provocative, signaling a potential attack and often compelling the targeted plane to take evasive measures.

The encounters took place near islands claimed by both Japan and China and are considered the most serious military interactions between the two nations in recent years, raising concerns about escalating regional tensions. Relations have already been strained after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated that Japan could intervene if Chinese military actions against Taiwan threatened Japanese security. Taiwan, governed democratically, is claimed by Beijing and lies approximately 110 kilometers from Yonaguni, Japans westernmost island.

Japans defense authorities noted that the Chinese J-15 jets involved were launched from the Liaoning aircraft carrier, which was operating south of Okinawa alongside three missile destroyers. Previous incidents include a 2013 episode where a Chinese warship targeted a Japanese destroyer with radar and a 2016 event where Beijing accused Japan of locking radar on Chinese fighters. In June of this year, Chinese jets reportedly flew dangerously close to a Japanese patrol plane near Okinawa.

The situation comes amid reports of China deploying a significant number of naval and coast guard vessels across East Asian waters, at one point exceeding 100 ships. Taiwans government warned that such military build-ups pose a threat to stability in the Indo-Pacific region, while Japan continues to monitor Chinese movements closely.

Author: Maya Henderson