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Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, vowed to respond "in a composed yet firm manner" after claims that People's Liberation Army jets acquired a radar lock on Japan's fighter jets southeast of the primary island over the weekend.

An Serious Incident Detailed

According to the Japanese defence ministry, Chinese J-15 fighter aircraft operating from the aircraft carrier Liaoning activated their fire-control radar against Japanese F-15s twice on Saturday. The first incident happened at 1632 hours and was repeated approximately two hours. The ministry noted that visual confirmation was not possible because of the distance, and confirmed that there was no damage or casualties occurred.

"This was an unprecedented instance Japan's Ministry of Defense has disclosed such an incident," a report noted. Fighter jets commonly employ radar systems to search and rescue.

Diplomatic Protest and Denials

Reacting to the allegations, the Chinese navy released a statement rejecting them as "completely inconsistent with reality." It urged Tokyo to "cease slandering and smearing." Conversely, Beijing asserted that Japan's Self-Defense Forces aircraft had "posed a grave risk to aviation safety" by consistently flying near China's training zones. Beijing did not mention any radar targeting.

A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry subsequently urged Tokyo to "halt its provocative actions of interfering with China's normal drills and exercises."

Escalating Tensions and Broader Context

Relations between Beijing and Tokyo have worsened significantly over the past month. The downturn came after Prime Minister Takaichi remarked that hostilities against Taiwan could lead to the dispatch of Japanese Self-Defense Forces should such a conflict posed an existential threat to Japan.

She argued that Tokyo had the right to exercise its legal authority to collective defense, which involves assisting a partner under attack. She stated that her country had to "anticipate a worst-case scenario" regarding the Taiwan Strait.

The Japanese Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, labeled the radar incident as "dangerous and extremely regrettable." Subsequently, China's envoy to Japan, Wu Jianghao, was summoned on Sunday.

A senior vice-foreign minister, Funakoshi Takehiro, lodged a "formal complaint" and urged the Chinese government to "ensure that such acts are not repeated."

Longstanding Disputes

Japan and China have a long-running territorial dispute over the islands, which are known as the Diaoyu in China. The small, uninhabited islets lie in waters between Okinawa and Taiwan.

Furthermore, broader geopolitical tensions persist. Tokyo has been strengthening cooperation with American and other partners in the Asia-Pacific area, a region where several nations have similar maritime) disagreements with Beijing.

Beijing, for its part, maintains extensive territorial claims in adjacent seas, a posture that has prompted international concern.