Japan has lodged a protest with China after a Chinese military jet locked its radar on Japanese F-15 fighter jets near Okinawa
Tokyo: Japan’s Defence Ministry reported that a Chinese J-15 military aircraft, operating from the carrier Liaoning, “intermittently” targeted its radar at Japanese F-15 fighter jets on two occasions on Saturday — for about three minutes in the late afternoon and roughly 30 minutes in the evening.
The radar lock was detected while Japanese fighters had scrambled to intercept the Chinese aircraft amid concerns over a possible airspace violation. No Japanese airspace was breached, and no injuries or damage were reported. It remains unclear if the same J-15 was involved in both incidents.
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Speaking to reporters, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the radar lock as “a dangerous act that exceeded the scope necessary for safe aircraft operations” and lodged a formal protest with China, demanding preventive measures. He called the incident “extremely regrettable.”
China has not immediately commented on the incident. On Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the Chinese navy operates in accordance with international law and criticised any exaggeration of its activities.
The radar lock follows heightened tensions between the two nations after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s early November statement that Japan could act if China attempted military action against Taiwan.
On Saturday, the Liaoning carrier conducted aircraft takeoff and landing exercises between the main island of Okinawa and Miyako island. Japanese F-15s pursued the Chinese aircraft at a safe distance, without actions that could be interpreted as provocative.
Fighter jet radars are used for searching and fire control ahead of potential missile launches. This appears to be the first known radar lock involving Japanese and Chinese military aircraft, though in 2013 a Chinese warship targeted a Japanese destroyer’s radar.
Separately, the Philippine coast guard reported that Chinese forces fired three flares at a fisheries patrol plane over the South China Sea, a standard warning to aircraft near disputed waters.
(With AFP inputs)
Published: 07 Dec 2025, 09:55 am IST
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