After it was reported that Chinese fighter jets aimed a fire – control radar at Japanese F – 15s flying near Okinawa, Beijing intensified its verbal conflict with Tokyo. Tokyo described this action as “dangerous” and “extremely regrettable.”
Following the radar incident, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi informed his German counterpart Johann Wadephul in Beijing that “Japan is posing a military threat to China,” a stance he regarded as “completely unacceptable.”
According to China’s official Xinhua News Agency, Wang accused Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of “attempting to exploit the Taiwan question – the very territory that Japan colonized for half a century and committed numerous crimes against the Chinese people – to stir up trouble and pose a military threat to China. This is completely unacceptable.” He also added that as a “defeated nation” in World War II, Japan should act more cautiously.
China expert Gordon Chang told Digital, “With Saturday’s radar – lock incidents against Japan and other recent belligerent actions, it seems that China wants to start a war. In any case, these incidents could easily escalate into a war, especially since China is unable to act constructively or de – escalate the situation.”
Japanese officials stated that the confrontation occurred on Dec. 6 when Chinese J – 15 fighter jets operating from the aircraft carrier Liaoning twice aimed their radar at Japanese F – 15s over international waters near Japan’s Okinawa islands.
Reuters reported that Takaichi told reporters, “These radar illuminations exceed what is necessary for the safe flight of aircraft.” She also mentioned that Japan had lodged a protest with China and described the incident as “extremely regrettable.”
According to comments by Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, Japan’s government later said that the Self – Defense Force fighters “maintained a safe distance during their mission” and denied China’s accusation that its jets obstructed Chinese operations.
The radar clash followed remarks by Takaichi that had already strained relations. Reuters reported that in early November, she told parliament that a Chinese could amount to a “survival – threatening situation” for Japan and potentially trigger a military response under Japan’s 2015 security laws. Beijing condemned those remarks as “egregious,” accused Tokyo of severely interfering in its internal affairs, and warned of “serious consequences” if they were not retracted.
Since then, Chinese officials and state media have depicted Takaichi as exaggerating an external threat to justify Japan’s military buildup and closer ties with Taiwan. Simultaneously, according to official statements carried by People’s Daily and other Chinese outlets, Chinese spokespeople have accused Japan of “exaggerating” the radar incident itself and “deliberately making false accusations” to increase tension.
Chang said, “China has failed to make Prime Minister Takaichi back down. So, its options are to accept humiliation or intensify the crisis. It will choose to intensify. China is now proving Takaichi right: Beijing is creating a ‘survival – threatening situation’ for Japan.”