Japan Summons Chinese Envoy After Fighter Jet “Radar Lock” Sparks Fresh Tensions

Japan Summons Chinese Envoy After Alleged ‘Radar Lock’ by PLA Fighter Jets Near Okinawa.

Japan has summoned China’s ambassador to lodge a formal protest after alleging that a Chinese military aircraft targeted Japanese fighter jets with fire-control radar, a move Tokyo called dangerous and “extremely regrettable,” amid rising tensions between the two countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the incident occurred on Saturday over international waters southeast of Okinawa, where Chinese J-15 fighter jets from the PLA Navy’s Liaoning aircraft carrier allegedly locked their radar onto Japanese jets that had been scrambled to monitor the vessel. The Chinese embassy has denied the allegation.

A radar lock is considered a highly escalatory action because it signals a potential missile attack, often prompting the targeted aircraft to take evasive measures.

Diplomatic Tensions Already Running High

The decision to summon Ambassador Wu Jianghao comes at a time when relations between Tokyo and Beijing are already deeply strained. Friction escalated last month after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would pose a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan — a remark Beijing interpreted as a signal of potential Japanese military involvement.

China responded sharply, summoning Japan’s ambassador, submitting a protest to the United Nations, advising Chinese citizens to avoid travel to Japan, and extending its ban on Japanese seafood imports. Several cultural events featuring Japanese artists and films have also been disrupted.

The latest radar incident is expected to further intensify diplomatic tensions as both sides trade accusations in an increasingly volatile regional security environment.