According to the Japanese Ministry of Defence, Chinese jets twice locked radar on aircraft of the Air Self-Defence Force (ASDF) while operating in international waters, a step normally preceding missile engagement. No damage or casualties were reported.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the incident as “dangerous” and demanded Beijing take measures to prevent such confrontations in the future. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated that Japan would respond decisively to protect its airspace and personnel.
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has denied the allegations, blaming Japan for repeatedly entering Chinese training zones. The PLA said exercises, including a Chinese carrier and three missile destroyers, were disrupted by Japanese F-15s attempting to prevent potential airspace violations. Chinese J-15 jets from the Liaoning aircraft carrier reportedly locked radar on the Japanese aircraft in response.
The incident follows heightened bilateral tensions over Taiwan. On November 7, PM Takaichi stated that Japan could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan, prompting Beijing to condemn the statement as “irresponsible and provocative.” The next day, China’s Consul General in Japan, Xue Jian, issued threats on social media, leading both nations to summon ambassadors. China also issued a warning to its citizens against traveling to Japan.
Taiwan, located about 110 kilometers from Japan, is considered by China as its territory, though Japan and the United States do not recognize it as independent. The waters around Taiwan are strategically critical for Japan’s maritime trade, and Japan hosts a major overseas U.S. military base, heightening the geopolitical stakes.
This latest aerial confrontation underscores ongoing friction in East Asia, with Japan and China maintaining opposing stances on Taiwan and regional security, raising concerns about potential escalation in the strategically sensitive East China Sea corridor.
