CaliToday (07/12/2025): Tensions in the East China Sea spiked sharply this weekend after Japan’s Ministry of Defense revealed a "dangerous and provocative" encounter between Chinese and Japanese fighter jets.
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| Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi |
In a breaking announcement early on December 7, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi confirmed that a Chinese J-15 fighter jet operating from the aircraft carrier Liaoning—locked its radar onto F-15 fighter jets of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) on two separate occasions the previous day.
This marks the first time in history that the Japanese government has publicly announced a radar lock incident initiated by a Chinese military aircraft against the JASDF, signaling a significant shift in the transparency and severity of aerial encounters in the region.
Timeline of the Incident
According to the Defense Ministry, the incidents occurred on the afternoon of December 6 in the airspace southeast of Okinawa. The Japanese F-15s had been scrambled in response to the movement of the Chinese carrier strike group.
The radar locks occurred in two distinct waves:
First Incident: Between 16:32 and 16:35, a Chinese J-15 directed its radar at a Japanese fighter.
Second Incident: Between 18:37 and 19:08, the J-15 targeted a different JASDF aircraft. The second lock lasted for over 30 minutes an unusually long duration for such a maneuver.
While the Japanese pilots detected the radar signals indicating they were being tracked, the distance between the aircraft remained outside of visual range. Authorities confirmed there were no injuries or damage to equipment.
Context: The Liaoning Carrier Strike Group
The aerial confrontation took place against the backdrop of significant naval maneuvering. The incident coincided with the transit of China's aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, accompanied by three guided-missile destroyers.
The strike group was monitored passing through the strategic waters between Okinawa and Miyako Island before entering the Pacific Ocean. During this transit, the Chinese navy conducted high-frequency flight operations, with carrier-based aircraft repeatedly taking off and landing.
Japan’s Reaction: "Unpredictable Consequences"
Defense Minister Koizumi did not mince words in his condemnation of the act. He noted that the continuous radar illumination over such a sustained period demonstrated behavior that was "clearly dangerous and far exceeded any necessity for safe flight operations."
In military terms, a "radar lock" (often involving fire-control radar) is considered a hostile act, as it is the final step taken before firing a missile at a target.
Diplomatic Fallout:
Tokyo has lodged a severe protest with Beijing through both diplomatic and defense channels.
The Japanese government warned that such provocative actions significantly increase the risk of an "unforeseen accident" or miscalculation that could lead to open conflict.
A History of Tension
While this is the first publicized aerial radar lock, it is not the first time Japan has accused China of using fire-control radar against its forces.
2013 Incident: Japan reported that a Chinese naval vessel directed its fire-control radar at a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer.
This latest incident represents a worrying evolution in the cat-and-mouse game played between the two Asian powers, moving the friction point from the sea surface to the skies.