Japan has claimed a Chinese military jet locked its radar on Japanese fighter jets near the southern island of Okinawa in a “dangerous act”.
Japan‘s defence ministry said a Chinese J-15 “intermittently” targeted its fire-control radar at Japanese F-15s on two occasions on Saturday.
A fire-control radar lock is one of the most threatening acts a military aircraft can take, as it signals a potential attack – often forcing the targeted aircraft to take evasive action.
The alleged use of the system by the Chinese aircraft was detected by different Japanese fighters that had scrambled against a possible airspace violation by China, according to the ministry.
The Japanese defence ministry said the jets were targeted for about three minutes in the late afternoon and for about 30 minutes in the evening.
Japan said the Chinese J-15 was launched from China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier, which was manoeuvring south of the Okinawan islands with three missile destroyers.
It is believed to be the first instance of a radar lock involving Japanese and Chinese military aircraft.
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Japan insisted there was no breach of Japanese airspace, and no injury or damage was reported from the incident.
A Chinese navy spokesperson refuted the claims, and said Japan’s allegations were completely inconsistent with the facts.
The spokesperson said a Japanese self-defence force aircraft repeatedly approached and disrupted the Chinese navy as it was training.
Japanese defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi said in the early hours of Sunday that Japan had protested to China over the incident.
He said the move “exceeded the scope necessary for safe aircraft operations,” and that Japan had “demanded strict preventive measures” from China.
It comes as relations between the two countries have worsened in recent weeks following remarks made by Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, over Taiwan.
China was angered after the Japanese leader suggested its military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing says must come under its rule.
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The comments went much further than those of her predecessors, while Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said the remarks “crossed a red line”.
