Japan Protests After Chinese Jets Lock Radar On Fighters
Tokyo lodged a formal protest after Chinese J 15 fighters intermittently locked fire control radar onto Japanese F 15 jets in international airspace southeast of Okinawa, raising fears of dangerous escalation in an already tense region. The episodes, which lasted minutes in one case and about half an hour in another, highlight growing risks of miscalculation between the two militaries and concern among regional partners.
Japan lodged a formal diplomatic protest after Chinese J 15 carrier based fighters intermittently locked fire control radar onto Japanese F 15 jets on two occasions on December 6 and 7 in international airspace southeast of Okinawa, the Defense Ministry said. The ministry described the actions as “extremely regrettable” and “dangerous,” saying radar locks lasted about three minutes in one instance and roughly 30 minutes in another.
Tokyo said it scrambled patrol aircraft to monitor Chinese flight operations in the Miyako area and that no Japanese airspace was breached. There were no reports of injuries or damage. The Japanese protest demands an explanation and calls for measures to prevent a recurrence, officials said, underscoring the sensitivity with which Tokyo treats any indications that foreign sensors have been directed at its combat aircraft.
China defended its training activities and accused Japan of harassment, asserting the flights were routine maneuvers. Beijing offered no additional detail publicly about the precise circumstances of the radar locks. The exchange has nonetheless tightened already frayed military ties between the two countries and prompted expressions of concern from regional partners urging restraint.
The use of a fire control radar is significant because it is a targeting sensor associated with weapons systems, and a lock can be interpreted as preparation to engage. Even short duration locks can create intense moments of risk in close encounters at sea or in the air, increasing the possibility of miscalculation. Incidents of this kind are especially fraught in the East China Sea and nearby air corridors where Chinese and Japanese forces frequently operate in proximity.
The episode comes against a backdrop of expanded Chinese air and naval activity across the region and sustained modernization of both countries militaries. Japan has repeatedly emphasized the need for clear rules of engagement and communication to reduce the danger of accidents. Officials in Tokyo are likely to press for greater transparency from Beijing about training patterns and the technical protocols used during encounters.
International law permits military operations in international airspace, but customary safety norms and bilateral understandings have developed to minimize the risk of accidents and escalation. Pointing weapons grade sensors at another country’s aircraft is widely regarded as contrary to those safe conduct norms, even when operations remain within legal bounds. The protest therefore functions both as a formal diplomatic record of grievance and as a signal that Tokyo expects Beijing to adhere to deescalatory practices.
Analysts say the incident will test crisis communication channels and put pressure on political leaders to manage tensions before they spill into confrontation. For the broader region, recurrent close encounters underscore the strategic rivalry playing out in Northeast Asia and the premium rivals and partners alike place on mechanisms to prevent inadvertent clashes. How Beijing responds to Tokyo’s protest may influence not only bilateral military behavior but also wider regional stability in the months ahead.
