The incident happened on Dec. 6 over the high seas of Okinawa Island.
Chinese fighter jets allegedly used radar to lock onto Japanese fighter planes over Okinawa Island, according to a Dec. 7 statement released by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The incident happened twice in the afternoon on Dec. 6 over the high seas of Okinawa, located nearly 400 miles south of mainland Japan in the East China Sea.
The Chinese Navy’s “Liaoning” aircraft carrier launched J-15 jets that then “intermittently” aimed their radars at Japanese F-15 fighter jets on Saturday. According to the Associated Press, this occurred once in the afternoon for around three minutes, and then again in the evening for around 30 minutes.
Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force had scrambled its jets to monitor Chinese jets that had been conducting takeoff and landing exercises in the Pacific.
Its not clear if the radar lock incident came from the same Chinese J-15 jet both times.
The Chinese aircraft did not enter Japanese airspace and no injuries or damage were reported.
Japanese leaders condemned China’s alleged radar lock-in on Japanese fighter jets, which is believed to be the first involving Japanese and Chinese military aircraft.
“Vice Minister Funakoshi [Takehiro], made a strong protest that such dangerous acts are extremely regrettable and strongly urged the Government of China to ensure that similar actions do not recur,” Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the Chinese military’s actions “exceeded the scope necessary for safe aircraft operations.”
“We have lodged a strong protest with the Chinese side and demanded strict preventive measures,” Koizumi said.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi vowed to respond “calmly and resolutely” to Chinese military activity around Japan.
The Chinese communist regime stated it was conducting “normal flight training for carrier-based fighter jets.”
The alleged radar lock-in happened on the same day that the Philippine coast guard accused the Chinese regime of firing three flares toward a plane patrolling fish stock in the South China Sea, a tactic commonly used by the regime to warn planes away from what claims is its airspace over the water.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
By Jacki Thrapp
