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Japan's leader, Sanae Takaichi, has pledged to respond "with calm determination" following accusations that People's Liberation Army jets acquired a radar lock on Japan's F-15s southeast of Okinawa's main island during the past weekend.

A Serious Incident Reported

According to the Japanese defence ministry, Chinese J-15 fighter aircraft operating from the carrier Liaoning engaged their fire-control radar on Japanese F-15s on two occasions on Saturday. The first incident happened at 1632 hours and occurred again approximately two hours. Officials noted that visual confirmation could not be obtained because of the distance, and confirmed that no damage or injuries were reported.

"It marked an unprecedented instance the Japanese defence ministry has made public an event of this nature," a report stated. Military aircraft commonly employ radar systems for search and rescue.

Official Objection and Counter-Claims

Reacting to Tokyo's claims, the Chinese military issued a statement dismissing the report as "totally contrary to reality." The statement demanded Japan to "immediately stop slandering and smearing." Conversely, Beijing asserted that Japan's Self-Defense Forces aircraft had "seriously endangered aviation safety" by consistently approaching its exercise areas. The Chinese statement made no reference to any radar targeting.

A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently called on Tokyo to "halt its provocative actions of interfering with our normal military exercise and training."

Escalating Tensions and Regional Background

Relations between Beijing and Tokyo have soured markedly over the past month. This cooling came after Prime Minister Takaichi remarked that hostilities against Taiwan might lead to the dispatch of Japan's Self-Defense Forces should the situation posed an extreme danger to Japan.

She argued that Japan had the right to invoke its legal authority to collective defense, meaning coming to the aid of an ally. She stated that Japan had to "anticipate the most severe possibilities" regarding the Taiwan Strait.

Japan's defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, labeled Saturday's radar incident as "dangerous and extremely regrettable." Subsequently, China's envoy to Japan, Wu Jianghao, was summoned on Sunday.

Japan's vice-foreign minister, Funakoshi Takehiro, lodged a "formal complaint" and urged Beijing to "ensure that similar actions are not repeated."

Longstanding Points of Contention

Japan and China have a long-running territorial dispute over a group of Senkaku Islands, which are known as the Diaoyu in China. These small, uninhabited islets lie between Okinawa and Taiwan.

Furthermore, regional tensions persist. Japan is deepening cooperation with American and other allies in the Indo-Pacific area, where several countries are engaged in their own maritime) disagreements with Beijing.

Beijing, for its part, asserts vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, a posture that has prompted criticism and legal challenges.