The Japanese government claimed on Dec. 7 that Chinese fighter jets had aimed their radar at Japanese military aircraft in two “dangerous” incidents near Japan’s Okinawa islands, reported Reuters. “These radar illuminations are a dangerous act that went beyond what is necessary for the safe flight of aircraft,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters, adding that Japan had lodged a protest with China over the “extremely regrettable” incident on Dec. 6. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, meeting with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles in Tokyo, said Japan would respond “resolutely and calmly” to China’s conduct in order to maintain regional peace and stability.
Beijing has rejected Tokyo’s protests. According to Global Times, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement released on late Sunday night, Dec. 7, that it is the frequent close-in reconnaissance and disruptions conducted by Japan’s fighter jets on China’s normal military activities that have caused the biggest maritime and air security risk, and that China does not accept the so-called protest from the Japanese side and has rejected it on the spot and lodged counter-protests in Beijing and in Tokyo.
