Tokyo says Chinese fighter jets locked radar on Japanese aircraft
發佈日期: 2025-12-07 21:47
TVB News
Japan claims Chinese fighter jets directed fire-control radar at thier aircraft, criticising it as a dangerous act and lodging a protest with China.
Beijing urged Japan to refrain from making unfounded accusations.
Japan's Ministry of Defense said the People's Liberation Army aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, sailed in waters near Okinawa on Friday.
On Saturday, the Liaoning was spotted again, along with three guided-missile destroyers, sailing through the waters between Okinawa and Miyako Island, and heading southeast into the Pacific Ocean.
Japan reported that fighter jets and helicopters were taking off and landing on the Liaoning carrier, prompting the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to scramble fighter jets in response.
It further indicates that the J-15 fighter jets took off from the Liaoning carrier.
On Saturday afternoon and evening, Japan said radar was twice used to fire-control, or illuminate, Japanese aircraft jets over international waters southeast of Okinawa.
The crews on Japanese aircraft were unharmed and the jets themselves were not damaged.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi held a press conference on Sunday morning, criticising the incident as dangerous and expressing deep regret.
In a post on X, he said: "These radar illuminations went beyond what is necessary for the safe flight of aircraft."
He lodged a strong protest with China and demanded that such an incident will not happen again.
He added that Japan would respond "resolutely and calmly" to such conduct to maintain regional peace and stability.
Radar illumination is among the most threatening acts by a military aircraft because it signals a potential attack.
It involves fighter jets activating their radars to lock on to targets and track their position, speed and direction.
Japan recently said that it has noticed China expanding its military activities near Japan.
Reuters reported that on Thursday, China deployed a large number of naval and coast guard ships across East Asian waters, at one point numbering more than 100.
Relations between the two countries have already soured after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned that Tokyo could respond to any Chinese conflict with Taiwan if it threatened Japan's security.
Beijing responded that it is consistent in only pursuing a defensive national military policy, and that its navy and coast guard operate in relevant waters strictly in accordance with Chinese and international law.
