Japan, China Protest Radar Lock by Chinese Jets on F-15s

Japan and China exchanged sharp diplomatic protests on Tuesday following a midair confrontation on December 6, when Chinese fighter jets from the aircraft carrier Liaoning reportedly locked their fire-control radars onto Japanese F-15 aircraft over international waters near Okinawa. The incident, the first publicly disclosed case of such radar targeting between the two nations' military planes, has heightened concerns about escalating tensions in the region.

Japan's Ministry of Defense detailed two separate episodes that day. The first occurred between 4:32 p.m. and 4:35 p.m., when a Chinese J-15 jet illuminated its radar on a Japanese F-15 conducting an intercept mission southeast of Okinawa. A second J-15 targeted another F-15 from 6:37 p.m. to 7:08 p.m. No damage or injuries resulted, and Japanese pilots maintained a safe distance while monitoring the Chinese carrier group's operations. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the actions as "dangerous and extremely regrettable," stating they exceeded measures necessary for safe flight. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara echoed this, calling the radar illuminations a provocative act beyond routine safety protocols.