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The Japanese leader, Sanae Takaichi, vowed to respond "in a composed yet firm manner" after claims that People's Liberation Army aircraft locked their radar onto Japan's fighter jets south-east of the main island during the past weekend.

An Serious Aerial Encounter Detailed

Per the Japanese defence ministry, China's J-15 fighter aircraft from the aircraft carrier Liaoning engaged their targeting radar on Japanese F-15s twice on Saturday. The first incident happened at 1632 hours and was repeated approximately later. Officials noted that a visual sighting was not possible due to the range involved, and confirmed that no damage or casualties resulted.

"This was an unprecedented instance the Japanese Ministry of Defense has disclosed an event of this nature," a report stated. Military aircraft routinely use radar for tracking purposes.

Diplomatic Objection and Counter-Claims

In response to Tokyo's claims, the Chinese military released a declaration dismissing the report as "totally contrary to the facts." It demanded Japan to "immediately stop slandering and smearing." Conversely, China claimed that Japan's SDF planes had "posed a grave risk to aviation safety" by repeatedly approaching China's exercise areas. Beijing did not mention any radar targeting.

An official for the Chinese foreign ministry later urged Japan to "immediately stop its dangerous moves of harassing our normal drills and exercises."

Escalating Strains and Regional Background

Relations between Beijing and Japan have worsened markedly over the past month. The downturn came after PM Takaichi remarked that hostilities against Taiwan might trigger the dispatch of Japan's military if such a conflict presented an extreme danger to the nation.

She insisted that Japan could exercise its right to collective defense, meaning coming to the aid of a partner under attack. The Prime Minister stated that Japan had to "prepare for a worst-case scenario" regarding the Taiwan Strait.

Japan's Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, described Saturday's encounter as "highly risky and deeply unfortunate." Subsequently, the Chinese envoy to Japan, Wu Jianghao, was summoned the following day.

Japan's vice minister for foreign affairs, Funakoshi Takehiro, lodged a "strong protest" and urged the Chinese government to "ensure that such acts are not repeated."

Enduring Points of Contention

Japan and China have a protracted territorial dispute over the islands, called the Diaoyu in China. These tiny, uninhabited islets lie in waters between Okinawa and Taiwan.

Additionally, regional frictions continue. Tokyo has been strengthening cooperation with the US and its allies in the Indo-Pacific area, a region where several countries are engaged in their own territorial and maritime disputes with China.

China, for its part, maintains extensive territorial claims in the South China Sea, a posture that has prompted international concern.