China Hits Back at Japan's Radar Lock Criticism, Accusing Tokyo of Exaggerating 'Victimhood'

China: "Arrogant Performances Will Ultimately Come to an End"
"Long-Range Training Conducted in Accordance With International Law and Practice"

As tensions between China and Japan enter a new phase following an incident in which a Chinese Navy aircraft carrier-based fighter jet 'locked radar' onto a Japanese fighter jet in international waters near Okinawa, Chinese authorities have strongly criticized Japan, emphasizing Japan's responsibility for the situation.

On December 8, New Tanqin, a social media platform affiliated with China's Xinhua News Agency, referenced the 'radar lock-on' dispute, stating, "It appears that the China-Japan struggle is entering a second stage."

Photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meeting at the China-Japan Summit held in Gyeongju. Photo by Yonhap News.

The post continued, "We must not rule out the possibility that Japan will create a new incident to shift the focus and disrupt or destabilize the situation," adding, "International games are like the game of Go; when one side is on the defensive, it may make moves elsewhere to disrupt the board."

Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's Minister of Defense, said at a press conference the previous day that on the afternoon of December 6, a Chinese J-15 carrier-based fighter jet illuminated its radar (meaning it targeted) at a Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jet in international airspace southeast of Okinawa Island. He stated that Japan had lodged a protest with China and demanded measures to prevent a recurrence.

Last month, Chinese authorities strongly objected to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks about 'intervening in the event of a Taiwan emergency,' subsequently issuing a series of pressure measures, including an 'advisory against visiting Japan' and a 'ban on imports of Japanese seafood.'

Amid these developments, Japan has highlighted the aggressive actions of the Chinese military as a new issue and has begun to criticize China. Japan claimed that its military aircraft were conducting surveillance missions to prevent Chinese military aircraft from violating Japanese airspace, but accused China of adopting an offensive posture. In response, New Tanqin commented, "China is taking a strong stance while Japan is trying to portray itself as the 'victim.' The battlefield of language often precedes actual conflict, and the side that controls the narrative attempts to steer public opinion."

The post further stated, "Western countries have largely remained silent regarding Sanae Takaichi's inappropriate remarks, but if Japan continues to exaggerate its 'victimhood,' Western nations will have no other choice but to express their positions and side with Japan to criticize China." It particularly emphasized, "China is not afraid, but if that happens, Japan's goal of muddying the waters and shifting the focus will have been thoroughly achieved." While expressing strong dissatisfaction, China also warned that it must remain vigilant regarding Japan's next moves, stating, "Arrogant performances will ultimately come to an end, and it is the silent blade and resolute action that will ultimately leave their mark on history."

Following Defense Minister Koizumi's remarks the previous day, both the Chinese Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued rebuttals in succession. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense stated, "Japan has maliciously monitored China's actions, caused a commotion, repeatedly sent aircraft to intrude into training zones designated and announced by China, and later falsely accused China of normal behavior. This is akin to a thief crying 'stop thief.'"

The ministry continued, "Japan's current promotion of the so-called 'radar illumination' issue is a reversal of black and white and an attempt to shift responsibility," adding, "Exaggerating tensions and misleading the international community reveals an entirely different agenda." Wu Jianghao, China's ambassador to Japan, visited the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs again, following a similar protest last month.

Wang Xuemeng, spokesperson for the Chinese Navy, stated that Chinese fighter jet training flights were being conducted as normal and that the training area had been announced in advance. Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang also asserted, "Long-range training is conducted in accordance with international law and practice," and refuted, "After Japan maliciously monitored and disrupted China's actions, it falsely accused China of conducting normal operations." He criticized this as "a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black and shifting responsibility onto the victim."