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Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, vowed to act "in a composed yet firm manner" following accusations that Chinese military aircraft targeted with fire-control radar Japan's F-15s southeast of the primary island during the past weekend.

An Concerning Incident Detailed

As stated by the Japanese Ministry of Defense, China's J-15 fighter aircraft operating from the carrier Liaoning engaged its targeting radar on Japanese F-15s on two occasions last Saturday. The first incident happened at 4:32 p.m. and occurred again approximately later. Officials noted that a visual sighting could not be obtained due to the distance, and confirmed that no damage or casualties resulted.

"It marked an unprecedented instance Japan's defence ministry has made public an event of this nature," one news agency noted. Military aircraft commonly use radar to tracking purposes.

Diplomatic Objection and Denials

In response to Tokyo's claims, China's navy released a statement rejecting them as "totally contrary to reality." It urged Japan to "immediately stop slandering and smearing." Conversely, Beijing claimed that Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft had "seriously endangered aviation safety" by consistently flying near China's training zones. Beijing made no reference to a radar lock-on.

An official for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs later called on Tokyo to "immediately stop its dangerous moves of interfering with China's routine drills and exercises."

Rising Tensions and Broader Background

Relations linking China and Japan have deteriorated significantly over the past month. This cooling came after PM Takaichi remarked that hostilities against Taiwan might trigger the deployment of Japanese military should such a conflict presented an existential threat to Japan.

She insisted that Japan could exercise its right to collective defense, meaning coming to the aid of an ally. The Prime Minister emphasized that her country had to "prepare for a worst-case scenario" in the Taiwan Strait.

The Japanese Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, labeled the radar incident as "highly risky and deeply unfortunate." In a diplomatic move, China's envoy 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 Disputes

Japan and China have a long-running territorial dispute over a group of islands, which are known as the Diaoyu by Beijing. The tiny, unoccupied islands lie in waters between Okinawa and Taiwan.

Furthermore, broader geopolitical frictions persist. Japan is strengthening military and strategic ties with the US and its allies in the Asia-Pacific area, where a number of countries have their own territorial and maritime disputes with Beijing.

China, in turn, maintains extensive sovereignty claims in adjacent seas, a posture that has prompted criticism and legal challenges.