Japan lodges a strong protest after Chinese fighter jets lock radar onto Japanese F-15s near Okinawa, calling the acts dangerous and regrettable.
TOKYO: Japan has lodged a strong protest with China after Chinese military aircraft locked their fire-control radar onto Japanese fighter jets in airspace near Okinawa.
The defence ministry described the incidents on Saturday as a “dangerous act” that exceeded the scope necessary for safe flight.
In the first incident southeast of Okinawa’s main island, a J-15 fighter from the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning intermittently locked its radar onto a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-15.
The Japanese jet had been scrambled in response to an airspace intrusion by the Chinese aircraft.
A second similar incident involving another J-15 from the Liaoning occurred approximately two hours later.
Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi called the actions “dangerous and extremely regrettable” during a hastily called news conference.
He stated Japan had demanded China prevent any recurrence of such acts.
No damage or injuries were reported from the encounters.
A fighter jet’s fire-control radar is used to identify and track targets, a step that can precede weapon deployment.
The incidents come amid heightened tensions between Tokyo and Beijing following recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi concerning potential military intervention in Taiwan.
