Japan claims Chinese fighter jets twice used radar to illuminate its Self-Defense Force fighter jets

(Deutsche Welle Chinese) Japan lodged a protest with China on Sunday (December 7) after Chinese fighter jets used fire control radar to illuminate Japanese fighter jets near the Okinawa Islands.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi condemned the actions of the Chinese military, saying they were "extremely dangerous."

He said the radar illumination was "beyond what is required for flight safety."

He said, "It is extremely regrettable that such an incident occurred. We have lodged a strong protest with the Chinese side and demanded that strict preventative measures be taken."

Radar lock-on is considered one of the most threatening actions by military aircraft, indicating a potential attack. A locked-on aircraft is forced to take evasive maneuvers. Fighter jets also use radar to search for targets.

Japanese fighter jets were locked onto by Chinese radar twice.

Japan's Defense Ministry stated that Chinese J-15 fighter jets "intermittently" illuminated Japanese F-15 fighter jets with radar twice on Saturday. The first instance occurred in the afternoon and lasted approximately three minutes; the second occurred in the evening and lasted approximately thirty minutes.

It is currently unclear whether the two radar locks came from the same Chinese J-15 fighter jet.

Japan claims that the Chinese J-15 fighter jets involved in the two radar lock-on incidents took off from the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning .

The Liaoning aircraft carrier moved between Okinawa Island and nearby Miyako Island on Saturday and conducted carrier-based aircraft take-off and landing training.

Japan's Ministry of Defense said the radar lock-on was detected by different Japanese fighter jets. These jets were scrambled at the time due to a possible Chinese violation of its airspace.

Japanese airspace was not violated.

According to Japan's Kyodo News, a Defense Ministry official said at a press conference, "China's intentions are unclear. But if it were for locating (aircraft), there would be no need for such intermittent operations."

According to Japanese media reports, the statement released by Japan on Sunday marks the first time the Tokyo Defense Ministry has publicly disclosed an incident in which Chinese military aircraft locked onto Japanese military aircraft with fire control radar.

In 2013, Japan stated that a Chinese warship locked onto a Japanese destroyer with radar in the East China Sea.

Sino-Japanese relations deteriorate again due to Taiwan

This radar lock-on incident is the latest dispute between the two Asian nations, whose relations have deteriorated in recent weeks over the Taiwan issue. Taiwan is a democratically governed island that China claims sovereignty over.

During a parliamentary questioning session on November 7, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi listed China's "deployment of warships" and "use of force against Taiwan" as situations that could threaten Japan's survival. China expressed strong protest against this .