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Phoebe Zhang

A rare military stand-off unfolded northeast of Taiwan near the Miyako Strait on Saturday, when Japan claimed that Chinese naval fighters had intermittently beamed fire-control radars – a tactical precursor to missile engagement – on its F-15J jets.
Responding on Sunday, Beijing said Japanese jets had intruded on a People’s Liberation Army naval drill by flying too close to its aircraft carrier fleet.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Defence, J-15 fighters launched from China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier performed two separate instances of radar targeting. The first incident happened between 4.32pm and 4.35pm local time over international airspace southeast of Okinawa’s main island, while the second happened between 6.37pm and 7.08pm.
Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi labelled the action a “dangerous act” beyond the scope of safe flight operations and said Tokyo had formally protested to Beijing.
This marks the first time Japan has publicly accused a Chinese military aircraft of using fire-control radar – indicating a potential weapons lock – against its forces. Japanese fighter jets locked on Chinese jets in 2017, according to previous reports.
Wang Xuemeng, a spokesman for the PLA Navy, said on Sunday that the Liaoning aircraft carrier and fleet had been conducting “regular flight training in a designated sea and airspace” that had been previously announced.
He added that during this time, Japan’s Self-Defence Forces had approached the area and created disturbances, interfering with normal training and seriously endangering flight safety.
“Japan’s hype is completely inconsistent with the facts. We urge Japan to stop the slander immediately and restrain frontline activities. The [Chinese] navy will take necessary measures according to law to resolutely safeguard its security and legitimate rights and interests,” Wang said.


The events followed the Liaoning carrier strike group’s transit through the Miyako Strait into the Pacific Ocean on Saturday. Escorting the carrier were the Type 055 destroyer Nanchang, and Type 052D destroyers Xining and Kaifeng. The formation conducted flight operations west of Kita-Daito Island, around 270km (168 miles) from Okinawa.
Separately, three other Chinese warships – the Type 055 destroyer Anshan, the Type 054A frigate Linyi and supply ship Dongpinghu – transited the strait earlier, moving northwest into the East China Sea.
Some analysts on Chinese social media noted that if Japanese fighters were operating near an active Chinese carrier group conducting live flight operations, it could be perceived as a threat.
Statements on Taiwan by Japanese leaders have often inflamed tensions with Beijing. The latest flare-up has been triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks last month that a crisis in the Taiwan Strait could be a “survival-threatening” situation for Japan that might justify military intervention – comments that Beijing said crossed a red line on the sensitive issue.
On Wednesday, Takaichi told the Japanese parliament that Tokyo’s position on Taiwan remained unchanged and referred to a 1972 commitment that led to the normalisation of ties between Beijing and Tokyo.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States and its treaty ally Japan, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state. But Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
Fire-control radar illumination is not routine. Unlike general surveillance radar, it involves precise, focused tracking that prepares a weapon system for engagement. When directed at another aircraft, it is widely interpreted as a high-intensity warning or pre-combat signal.
On Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian called to avoid “overinterpretation and hype”, emphasising transparency and adherence to legal norms.
Last month, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesman for China’s defence ministry, warned: “Should the Japanese side dare to cross the red line and invite troubles to itself, it is destined to pay a heavy price.”
His comments came after Japan claimed it was making steady progress on a plan to deploy medium-range surface-to-air missiles at Yonaguni Island, 110km east of Taiwan.


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China

Military

Japan says J-15 fighters used fire-control radar in ‘dangerous act’, while China accuses Japanese planes of disturbing navy drills


Japan says J-15 fighters used fire-control radar in ‘dangerous act’, while China accuses Japanese planes of disturbing navy drills.


Liaoning aircraft carrier

Japan

Sanae Takaichi

Shinjiro Koizumi

Tokyo accuses Chinese fighters of locking on Japanese jets northeast of Taiwan

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Japan says J-15 fighters used fire-control radar in ‘dangerous act’, while China accuses Japanese planes of disturbing navy drills

Japan says J-15 fighters used fire-control radar in ‘dangerous act’, while China accuses Japanese planes of disturbing navy drills