Japan Accuses China of “Dangerous” Radar Targeting Near Okinawa; Beijing Rejects Claim as Tensions Mount

Tokyo Says Chinese Jets Used Fire-Control Radar on Japanese Aircraft

Japan has accused Chinese fighter jets of directing fire-control radar at its military aircraft in two separate encounters near the Okinawa islands, an action Tokyo condemned as “dangerous and unacceptable.” Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the incidents occurred on Saturday and had prompted Tokyo to lodge a strong protest with Beijing.

“These radar illuminations exceeded the requirements for safe flight operations,” Koizumi said in a statement posted on X. He added that Japan would respond “calmly but firmly” to uphold regional peace during a meeting with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles in Tokyo.

Fire-control radar is used to guide weapons and is considered a hostile signal that can quickly escalate an encounter, often prompting targeted aircraft to take evasive measures.

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China Denies Targeting, Blames Japan for Provocation

China rejected Japan’s account, arguing that its naval aviation operations were being conducted legally in waters east of the Miyako Strait. According to Chinese Navy spokesperson Colonel Wang Xuemeng, Japanese aircraft repeatedly approached and interfered with carrier-based training flights.

Wang called Japan’s accusations “completely false,” asserting that Tokyo’s actions endangered aviation safety. He demanded that Japan “stop slandering China” and warned that the Chinese Navy would take “necessary measures” to protect its security and maritime rights.

The aircraft involved were Chinese J-15 fighter jets launched from the Liaoning aircraft carrier, which was operating south of the Okinawa chain along with three missile destroyers. Japan responded by scrambling F-15 fighters.

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One of the Most Serious Incidents in Years

The encounters near disputed areas of the East China Sea mark some of the most serious military run-ins between Japan and China since 2013, when Japan accused a Chinese vessel of locking fire-control radar on a Japanese destroyer. Similar accusations surfaced again in 2016 and earlier this year, underscoring the consistent volatility of military interactions in the region.

Recent tensions have been amplified by statements from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who said Japan could respond to Chinese military action against Taiwan if it also posed a threat to Japanese security interests.

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Taiwan Flashpoint Driving Regional Tension

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has intensified military pressure around the island. The strait separating the two is only 110 km (70 miles) from Japan’s westernmost island of Yonaguni, making any Taiwan-related crisis a direct security concern for Tokyo.

As tensions rose, Beijing advised its citizens to avoid travel to Japan and paused efforts to resume seafood imports halted after Japan’s release of treated wastewater from Fukushima.

Japan hosts the largest U.S. military presence abroad, including naval forces, fighter jets, and thousands of Marines stationed in Okinawa—giving Tokyo and Washington shared concerns about China’s expanding military operations.

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Australia Voices Support for Japan

Standing beside Koizumi, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles expressed deep concern about China’s actions. “We stand with Japan in upholding the rules-based order,” he said after discussions aimed at strengthening defense cooperation between the two countries.

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Silence from Washington as Trump Urges Restraint

While the U.S. ambassador to Japan, George Glass, has publicly supported Tokyo, senior American officials—including President Donald Trump—have not issued formal remarks on the radar incidents. According to sources cited by Reuters, Trump privately urged Prime Minister Takaichi last month not to escalate tensions with China.

That call reportedly came after Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who emphasized that Taiwan’s reunification with China remains central to Beijing’s long-term strategic goals, according to Chinese state media.

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Broad Chinese Maritime Activity Across the Region

The radar incidents come amid an unusually large deployment of more than 100 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels across East Asian waters late last week, according to intelligence reports cited by Reuters. Taiwan described this surge as a threat to the broader Indo-Pacific security environment.

On Sunday, Taiwan’s coast guard said it was monitoring drills by three Chinese maritime safety ships near the Taiwan Strait’s median line, but the situation was “stable.” Beijing, meanwhile, described the operations as routine search-and-rescue exercises—wording Taiwan dismissed as misleading and aimed at psychological pressure.

China insists it has exclusive sovereignty over the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. and Taiwan maintain that the waterway is international, open to all nations.

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Outlook: A Region on Edge

The latest confrontations underscore the precarious state of Japan-China relations as both nations position themselves amid rising tensions over Taiwan’s future. With fire-control radar involved and major naval deployments underway, defense analysts warn that the margin for error is shrinking.

Tokyo has said its surveillance will intensify in the days ahead.