The Japanese Defense Ministry said on Sunday that Chinese military aircraft had “closed their radars” on Japanese fighter jets in the airspace over the southeastern island of Okinawa, describing the matter as a “dangerous act.” Meanwhile, a Chinese Navy spokesman reported that a Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft repeatedly approached the Chinese Navy and disabled it during training exercises, and that Tokyo’s claims are not consistent with the facts.

Published on: 07/12/2025 - 08:25 Last updated: 07/12/2025 - 10:10

The Japanese Ministry of Defense reported on Sunday that Chinese military aircraft “closed their radars” on Japanese fighter jets in the airspace of Okinawa Island.

Radar shutdown is a feature in many radar systems, as it allows the aircraft to identify a specific target and track it continuously and automatically.

'Extremely serious and unfortunate' incidents

In a hastily held press conference on Sunday morning, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described these incidents as “dangerous and very regrettable,” saying that Japan had made a “strong protest” to Beijing and demanded that it prevent a recurrence of this.

The Ministry confirmed on Saturday that no damage or injuries occurred as a result of the accidents.

In the first incident, which occurred over the sea in the southeast of the island of Okinawa, the ministry said in a statement that “a J-15 fighter jet launched from the Chinese Navy’s Liaoning aircraft carrier intermittently locked its radar” on an F-15 fighter plane belonging to the Japanese Air Force.

The statement added that about two hours later, a Chinese J-15 fighter, also launched from the Liaoning aircraft carrier, intermittently closed its radar on a Japanese fighter.

He continued, "Closing the radar in these incidents constitutes a dangerous act," expressing his "deep regret that such incidents occur."

Fighter aircraft use their radars to identify targets and control fire, as well as in search and rescue operations.

Japan's claims do not agree with the facts.

For its part, Beijing said through a Chinese naval spokesman on Sunday that a plane belonging to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces repeatedly approached the Chinese navy and disabled it during training exercises, and that Tokyo's claims "do not agree with the facts."

This comes in response to what the Japanese Defense Minister said earlier on Sunday about Chinese fighters directing the radar that controls fire towards Japanese fighters near the Okinawa Islands in two separate incidents that the minister described as “dangerous.”

It is noteworthy that relations between Beijing and Tokyo witnessed great tension last month following statements by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in which she indicated that Tokyo might intervene militarily if Taiwan was attacked.

France 24/AFP/Reuters

Keywords related to the article

The content you want to browse is no longer in service or is currently unavailable.