Japan's government has dismissed Beijing's claims of harassment by its forces during a radar lock-on incident involving Chinese warplanes and Japanese jets near Okinawa. The event occurred on Saturday in international waters, with Tokyo vowing to respond calmly and resolutely. Australia has also urged restraint.
On Saturday, December 6, in international waters southeast of Okinawa Prefecture, Chinese J-15 fighter jets launched from the carrier Liaoning locked their radar onto Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-15 jets. The locks occurred intermittently twice: for about three minutes in the late afternoon and about 30 minutes in the evening, as Japanese aircraft monitored Chinese takeoff and landing exercises in the Pacific.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi condemned the action as "an extremely regrettable and dangerous act that exceeded the scope necessary for safe aircraft operations." Japan lodged a formal protest with China and demanded strict preventive measures. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, in a Monday press conference, rejected Beijing's allegations that SDF aircraft had seriously impeded the safe flight of Chinese planes, calling the claims "unfounded." He added that Japan "will continue to respond calmly and resolutely."
Chinese navy spokesperson Senior Colonel Wang Xuemeng defended the exercises near Miyako Island, which Beijing had announced in advance, and accused Japanese aircraft of "harassment." In a statement on the Chinese Ministry of Defense website, he urged Japan to "immediately stop slandering and smearing, and strictly restrain its frontline actions." He warned that the Chinese navy "will take necessary measures in accordance with the law to resolutely safeguard its own security and legitimate rights and interests."
Japanese officials emphasized that their jets maintained a safe distance with no provocative actions, and there was no breach of airspace or reported injuries or damage. The incident follows heightened tensions a month after Tokyo's leader made remarks on Taiwan. Australia has joined Japan in calling for calm.