The Japanese PM Pledges an 'Resolute' Response In the Wake of Radar Lock-On Event Involving China's Aircraft.

The Japanese leader, Sanae Takaichi, vowed to act "calmly and resolutely" after claims that Chinese military jets acquired a radar lock on Japanese F-15s southeast of Okinawa's primary island over the weekend.

An Concerning Incident Reported

Per Japan's Ministry of Defense, Chinese J-15 jets operating from the aircraft carrier Liaoning engaged its targeting radar on Japan's F-15s on two occasions on Saturday. This occurred happened at 1632 hours and was repeated about later. The ministry stated that visual confirmation could not be obtained because of the range involved, and confirmed that there was no damage or injuries occurred.

"It marked an unprecedented instance the Japanese defence ministry has disclosed an event of this nature," a report noted. Fighter jets commonly use radar to tracking purposes.

Official Protest and Counter-Claims

Reacting to the allegations, China's navy issued a declaration rejecting them as "completely inconsistent with reality." It urged Tokyo to "cease slandering and smearing." Instead, Beijing claimed that Japan's SDF aircraft had "posed a grave risk to aviation safety" by repeatedly approaching China's exercise areas. Beijing did not mention any radar targeting.

An official for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently called on Tokyo to "immediately stop its dangerous moves of harassing our normal drills and exercises."

Rising Tensions and Broader Context

Relations linking China and Tokyo have soured significantly in recent weeks. This cooling came after PM Takaichi stated that hostilities against Taiwan might lead to the deployment of Japanese Self-Defense Forces should the situation presented an extreme danger to the nation.

She insisted that Japan had the right to invoke its legal authority to collective defense, which involves coming to the aid of a partner under attack. The Prime Minister emphasized that her country had to "prepare for a worst-case scenario" in the Taiwan Strait.

The Japanese defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, described Saturday's encounter as "dangerous and extremely regrettable." Subsequently, the Chinese ambassador to Japan, Wu Jianghao, was summoned the following day.

Japan's vice minister for foreign affairs, Funakoshi Takehiro, lodged a "strong protest" and urged the Chinese government to "guarantee that such acts are not repeated."

Longstanding Points of Contention

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

Furthermore, regional frictions continue. Tokyo is strengthening military and strategic ties with American and other allies in the Indo-Pacific region, where several countries have their own maritime) disagreements with Beijing.

China, for its part, maintains vast territorial claims in adjacent seas, activities that has drawn international concern.