The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that a Chinese military fighter jet targeted a Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) fighter jet with radar over international waters.
On December 7, Shinjiro Koizumi, Japanese Minister of Defense, held an emergency press conference early in the morning and conveyed this information, stating that it was "deeply regrettable." Minister Koizumi also reported that Japan had lodged a protest with the Chinese side and demanded measures to prevent a recurrence.
According to the Ministry of Defense, at around 4:32 p.m. the previous day, a Chinese J-15 carrier-based fighter jet intermittently targeted a Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jet with radar for three minutes over international waters southeast of Okinawa Island.
The J-15 fighter jet had taken off from and was flying from the aircraft carrier Liaoning, while the F-15 fighter jet was scrambled to monitor and intercept the approach to Japanese airspace. However, there was no violation of Japanese airspace.
The Liaoning passed between Okinawa Island and Miyakojima, conducting training to launch and recover carrier-based fighter jets and helicopters in the Pacific Ocean. Subsequently, at around 6:37 p.m., another J-15 fighter jet that took off from the Liaoning intermittently illuminated the radar on a different F-15 fighter jet of the Air Self-Defense Force for about 31 minutes.
The Ministry of Defense stated that although there was no damage caused by the radar, the actions exceeded the necessary scope for safe flight of aircraft and were considered dangerous.
Radar targeting by fighter jets can be used for fire control to designate attack targets or for surrounding area searches, but the intention of the Chinese side was not confirmed. An official from the Ministry of Defense speculated, "If it was for search purposes, there would be no need to do it intermittently," suggesting the possibility that it was for fire control.
Kyodo News interpreted the situation by stating, "With Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks regarding a 'Taiwan contingency,' Japan-China relations have deteriorated, and tensions are likely to rise further."
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