Chinese Fighter Jet Locks Fire-Control Radar on Japanese Military
Tokyo Protests ‘Extremely Regrettable’ and ‘Dangerous’ Act Near Okinawa; Incident Follows High Tensions Over Taiwan Stance
Chinese Radar Lock Triggers Security Alarm in Tokyo
The Japanese Ministry of Defence (JMOD) disclosed a highly dangerous encounter yesterday, confirming that a Chinese J-15 fighter aircraft locked its fire-control radar onto Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-15 fighter jets over international waters southeast of Okinawa. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, December 6, 2025, involved two separate radar engagements, one lasting approximately three minutes and a subsequent, longer intermittent lock spanning 30 minutes.
Fire-control radar is the system used to acquire and track a target for weapon guidance, making a “lock-on” a severely escalatory act that is widely interpreted as a precursor to a missile launch. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi immediately lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Beijing, condemning the action as “extremely regrettable” and “a dangerous act that exceeded the scope necessary for safe aircraft operations.” The Japanese Vice Foreign Minister summoned China’s Ambassador to Japan to formally register the government’s stern displeasure.
Direct Consequence of Taiwan Tensions
The provocative incident unfolded as the Chinese carrier strike group, led by the aircraft carrier Liaoning, was conducting extensive military exercises in the Pacific Ocean. This aerial confrontation is the most serious military run-in between the two nations in years and is believed to be a direct response to the heightened bilateral tensions.
Relations between Tokyo and Beijing deteriorated sharply last month after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated in parliament that a Chinese military attack on Taiwan could be deemed a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan. This pivotal statement suggested the Japanese Self-Defence Forces (SDF) could potentially intervene to support U.S. operations in such a scenario—a red line for Beijing, which views the Taiwan issue as a purely internal affair. China has since increased its military presence and rhetoric in the region.
Conflicting Accounts and Panic in Asia
While the JMOD confirmed that Japanese jets maintained a safe distance and took no provocative action, the Chinese Navy issued a counter-statement. The Chinese spokesperson denied the radar lock allegations, instead accusing the JASDF aircraft of “seriously interfering” with and “harassing” their routine carrier-based flight training.
The clash near the strategically vital island of Okinawa, which hosts major U.S. military bases, has sent a clear message of heightened risk across the region. Leaders in Tokyo, alongside allies like Australia (whose Defence Minister was visiting Japan at the time), expressed deep concern over the development. The escalation confirms the East China Sea corridor as a major potential flashpoint, raising fears of an accidental collision or miscalculation that could rapidly spiral into a broader regional crisis, impacting the entire Indo-Pacific security structure.