Chinese military aircraft locks radar on Japanese fighter jet, says Japan in protest
According to Japan’s Defence Ministry, China’s military aircraft J-15 “intermittently” directed its radar at Japanese F-15 fighter jets in two separate incidents on Saturday.
The Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier, sails into Hong Kong for a port call to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison's presence in the semi-autonomous Chinese city and former British colony. (AP Photo/ File)
Japan on Sunday said that it has protested against a Chinese fighter jet, which took off from the Chinese carrier Liaoning, as it locked fire-control radar at Japanese military aircraft near Japan’s Okinawa islands, in a latest series of spat between the two countries as their ties recently plunged over Japan prime minister’s Taiwan remarks, AP reported.
According to Japan’s Defence Ministry, China’s military aircraft J-15 “intermittently” directed its radar at Japanese F-15 fighter jets in two separate incidents on Saturday. On the first occasion, the Chinese fighter jet targeted the Japanese military aircraft for three minutes in the late afternoon and later on, it targeted the Japanese fighter jet for 30 minutes in the evening.
The ministry added that Chinese radar lock was recorded by several Japanese fighter jets as Tokyo scrambled its military aircrafts against a potential airspace violation by China. However, there were no reports of any injury or damage and the Japanese airspace was not violated.
Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, center, speaks to the media, as Japan announced that a Chinese military aircraft locked its radar on Japanese jets, at the ministry in Tokyo. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, in a post on X, said the country has lodged a protest with China over Saturday’s “regrettable” incident. “These radar illuminations went beyond what is necessary for the safe flight of aircraft,” he wrote. The defence minister called the act as “dangerous” which exceeded the scope necessary for safe aircraft operations.
A fire-control radar lock is considered as one of the most lethal acts as a military aircraft due to its signals which clearly signifies a potential attack, forcing the targeted aircraft to take evasive action.
The encounter on Saturday took place near islands which is close to a territory that is claimed by both Japan and China and it is the most serious run-ins between the two militaries in years as their relations deteriorate over tensions caused after Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made remarks on Taiwan which the Beijing protested.
Takaichi earlier said Japan could respond to any Chinese military action against Taiwan if it also threatened Japan’s security.
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The Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier, sails into Hong Kong for a port call to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison's presence in the semi-autonomous Chinese city and former British colony. (AP Photo/ File) 
