Japan's Prime Minister Promises a 'Resolute' Answer In the Wake of Targeting Altercation Involving Chinese Fighter Jets.
Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, committed to act "with calm determination" after reports that Chinese military jets locked their radar onto Japanese fighter jets south-east of Okinawa's main island over the weekend.
A Serious Aerial Encounter Reported
Per Japan's defence ministry, Chinese J-15 fighter aircraft from the aircraft carrier Liaoning engaged their fire-control radar on Japan's F-15s on two occasions on Saturday. The first incident happened at 1632 hours and occurred again approximately two hours. Officials noted that a visual sighting was not possible due to the distance, and confirmed that there was no damage or casualties were reported.
"It marked the first time Japan's Ministry of Defense has made public an event of this nature," a report noted. Fighter jets routinely employ radar systems for target identification.
Official Objection and Counter-Claims
In response to Tokyo's claims, China's navy issued a statement rejecting them as "totally contrary to the facts." The statement demanded Japan to "cease making false accusations." Instead, Beijing claimed that Japan's Self-Defense Forces planes had "posed a grave risk to aviation safety" by repeatedly flying near its training zones. Beijing did not mention any radar targeting.
An official for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs later called on Japan to "halt its dangerous moves of interfering with China's normal military exercise and training."
Rising Strains and Regional Context
Relations between China and Japan have deteriorated markedly in recent weeks. This cooling followed Prime Minister Takaichi remarked that hostilities against Taiwan could trigger the deployment of Japanese Self-Defense Forces if the situation presented an extreme danger to Japan.
She insisted that Japan could exercise its right to collective self-defence, meaning assisting an ally. She stated that her country had to "anticipate a worst-case scenario" in the Taiwan Strait.
Japan's Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, described Saturday's encounter as "dangerous and extremely regrettable." Subsequently, the Chinese envoy to Japan, Wu Jianghao, was called in the following day.
A senior vice-foreign minister, Funakoshi Takehiro, made a "strong protest" and urged the Chinese government to "ensure that such acts do not recur."
Longstanding Disputes
The two nations are also locked in a protracted territorial dispute over a group of islands, which are known as the Diaoyu by Beijing. The small, uninhabited islands are situated in waters between Okinawa and Taiwan.
Additionally, broader geopolitical frictions persist. Japan has been deepening cooperation with the US and other partners in the Indo-Pacific area, where a number of nations have their own maritime) disputes with China.
Beijing, in turn, asserts vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, activities that has prompted international concern.
