China accused of locking radar of Japanese fighter jets

Tokyo says Chinese fighter jets repeatedly locked onto Japanese military aircraft with fire-control radar in an incident that represents one of the most serious military escalations between the two countries in years.

- ALISHA RAHAMAN SARKAR

Directing fire-control radar at another aircraft is a threatening step because it signals a potential attack and may force the targeted plane to take evasive action.

The Japanese defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi said two separate radar lock-on incidents took place on Saturday afternoon and evening, calling them “dangerous acts”. He said Japan had lodged a strong protest with China over Saturday’s “regrettable” incident.

Mr Koizumi said the Chinese aircraft involved were J-15 fighter jets that had taken off from the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning. He said they targeted Japanese F-15 fighter planes over international waters southeast of Japan’s Okinawa island chain.

“These radar illuminations went beyond what is necessary for the safe flight of aircraft,” Mr Koizumi posted on X/Twitter.

The radar lock was detected by multiple different Japanese fighters that had scrambled to respond to a possible airspace violation by China, according to the Japanese defence ministry. There was no breach of Japanese airspace, and no injury or damage was reported from the incident.