The Japanese PM Vows an 'Firm' Answer Following Radar Lock-On Incident With China's Aircraft.

The Japanese prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, vowed to act "with calm determination" following claims that Chinese military aircraft targeted with fire-control radar Japan's fighter jets southeast of Okinawa's primary island over the past weekend.

An Serious Incident Detailed

As stated by Japan's defence ministry, China's J-15 jets from the carrier Liaoning activated their fire-control radar on Japan's F-15s on two occasions on Saturday. This occurred happened at 1632 hours and was repeated about later. The ministry stated that visual confirmation could not be obtained because of the distance, and confirmed that no damage or casualties resulted.

"This was an unprecedented instance Japan's Ministry of Defense has reported such an incident," one news agency noted. Fighter jets routinely employ radar systems to tracking purposes.

Diplomatic Protest and Denials

In response to the allegations, China's military released a statement dismissing them as "totally contrary to reality." The statement urged Tokyo to "cease slandering and smearing." Conversely, China claimed that Japan's SDF aircraft had "seriously endangered flight safety" by repeatedly approaching China's training zones. Beijing made no reference to a radar lock-on.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently called on Tokyo to "halt its dangerous moves of harassing China's normal military exercise and training."

Rising Tensions and Regional Background

Ties between Beijing and Tokyo have deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. This cooling came after Prime Minister Takaichi remarked that hostilities against Taiwan might lead to the deployment of Japan's Self-Defense Forces if such a conflict posed an extreme danger to the nation.

Takaichi insisted that Tokyo could exercise its right to collective defense, which involves coming to the aid of a partner under attack. She stated that Japan had to "anticipate a worst-case scenario" in the Taiwan Strait.

Japan's defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, labeled Saturday's encounter as "dangerous and extremely regrettable." Subsequently, China's ambassador to Japan, Wu Jianghao, was summoned on Sunday.

Japan's vice minister for foreign affairs, Funakoshi Takehiro, made a "strong protest" and demanded the Chinese government to "ensure that such acts do not recur."

Longstanding Points of Contention

Japan and China have a protracted sovereignty disagreement over the islands, which are known as the Diaoyu in China. The tiny, unoccupied islands lie between Okinawa and Taiwan.

Additionally, regional tensions continue. Tokyo is deepening military and strategic ties with American and other allies in the Indo-Pacific area, where a number of countries have their own maritime) disputes with Beijing.

Beijing, in turn, asserts extensive sovereignty claims in adjacent seas, activities that has prompted international concern.