TOKYO (AP) — Japan said early Sunday it had lodged a protest with China after a military plane flying from China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier locked its radar on a Japanese fighter jet near the southern island of Okinawa, the latest spat in relations between the two countries that have been troubled over the Japanese leader’s remarks about Taiwan.
Japan’s Defense Ministry said a Chinese military aircraft J-15 “intermittently” aimed its radar at Japanese F-15 fighter jets twice on Saturday, lasting about 3 minutes in the late afternoon and 30 minutes in the evening.
According to Japan’s Defense Ministry, the Chinese plane’s radar lock was detected by different Japanese fighter jets that had been scrambled in response to possible Chinese airspace violations. The incident did not violate Japanese airspace, and no casualties or property damage were reported.
It is unclear whether the two radar locking incidents involved the same Chinese J-15.
Briefing reporters early Sunday morning, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Japan had protested to China over the radar lock issue, calling it a “dangerous act that goes beyond the scope required for the safe operation of aircraft.”
Koizumi said: “It is extremely regrettable that such an incident occurred.” We have lodged a strong protest with China and requested strict preventive measures. “
There was no immediate comment from the Chinese government or military. On Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the Chinese navy’s actions complied with international law and that others should not hype its activities.
The latest incident comes as relations between the two countries have deteriorated in recent weeks.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi angered China with a statement in early November that Japanese troops could intervene if China takes action against Taiwan, which Beijing says must be brought under its rule.
The aircraft carrier Liaoning passed between the main island of Okinawa and nearby Miyako Island on Saturday while conducting aircraft takeoff and landing exercises in the Pacific.
Japan’s Kyodo News quoted defense officials as saying that Japan’s F-15 fighter jets scrambled into the air in the event of an airspace violation. They were chasing Chinese aircraft at a safe distance and did not involve actions that could be interpreted as provocative.
Fighters can use radar to search or conduct fire control before missiles are launched.
It is believed to be the first time Japanese and Chinese military aircraft have been targeted by radar. Kyodo News said that in 2013, a Chinese warship targeted the radar of a Japanese destroyer.
Elsewhere in the Pacific, the Philippine Coast Guard said China fired three flares on Saturday at a Fisheries Agency aircraft patrolling the South China Sea. Chinese troops fired flares to warn aircraft to leave airspace over what they consider disputed waters.
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Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.
