Japan's Prime Minister Promises a 'Firm' Reaction After Radar Lock-On Event With China's Aircraft.

Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, committed to respond "with calm determination" after accusations that People's Liberation Army jets targeted with fire-control radar Japan's F-15s south-east of Okinawa's main island during the weekend.

A Dangerous Incident Detailed

According to Japan's Ministry of Defense, Chinese J-15 jets operating from the aircraft carrier Liaoning engaged its fire-control radar against Japanese F-15s twice last Saturday. The first incident happened at 1632 hours and was repeated about later. The ministry stated that a visual sighting was not possible because of the distance, adding that there was no damage or injuries were reported.

"It marked an unprecedented instance the Japanese defence ministry has made public such an incident," a report noted. Military aircraft commonly use radar for tracking purposes.

Diplomatic Protest and Counter-Claims

Reacting to Tokyo's claims, the Chinese military released a declaration dismissing them as "totally contrary to the facts." The statement urged Tokyo to "immediately stop slandering and smearing." Conversely, China claimed that Japan's Self-Defense Forces planes had "seriously endangered flight safety" by consistently flying near China's exercise areas. The Chinese statement made no reference to any radar targeting.

An official for the Chinese foreign ministry subsequently called on Tokyo to "immediately stop its provocative actions of harassing China's routine military exercise and training."

Escalating Strains and Regional Context

Relations between Beijing and Japan have soured significantly over the past month. The downturn followed Prime Minister Takaichi stated that hostilities against Taiwan could lead to the dispatch of Japan's Self-Defense Forces if the situation posed an existential threat to Japan.

She argued that Japan had the right to invoke its right to collective self-defence, meaning coming to the aid of an ally. She stated that her country had to "prepare for the most severe possibilities" in the Taiwan Strait.

The Japanese Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, labeled Saturday's radar incident as "dangerous and extremely regrettable." In a diplomatic move, China's envoy to Japan, Wu Jianghao, was summoned the following day.

A senior vice-foreign minister, Funakoshi Takehiro, lodged a "strong protest" and urged the Chinese government to "ensure that similar actions do not recur."

Enduring Points of Contention

The two nations are also locked in a long-running territorial dispute over a group of Senkaku Islands, called the Diaoyu in China. These tiny, unoccupied islands lie between Okinawa and Taiwan.

Additionally, broader geopolitical tensions continue. Japan is strengthening military and strategic ties with American and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region, a region where several countries have their own maritime) disagreements with China.

Beijing, for its part, maintains vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, activities that has drawn international concern.