Japan Protests China's J-15 Radar Targeting of F-15s Near Okinawa
Japan filed a strong diplomatic protest against China following two separate radar targeting incidents involving military aircraft over international waters southeast of Okinawa on December 6, 2025. According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, Chinese Navy J-15 fighters launched from the aircraft carrier Liaoning intermittently illuminated Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighters with fire-control radar during the encounters.
The first incident occurred between 16:32 and 16:35 local time, when a People’s Liberation Army Navy J-15 directed radar emissions toward an F-15 conducting routine airspace monitoring and interception duties. A second encounter followed between 18:37 and 19:08, involving a different JASDF F-15 responding to continued Chinese flight operations in the area.
Japanese officials emphasized that fire-control radar illumination constitutes a dangerous escalatory action. Such lock-ons simulate targeting procedures for potential missile strikes and are widely recognized as hostile signals in military contexts. Tokyo characterized the incidents as exceeding requirements for safe flight operations and as significantly increasing the risk of unintended escalation.
China’s Ministry of National Defense rejected Japan’s account entirely. The People’s Liberation Army Navy stated that the Liaoning carrier group was conducting previously announced flight training exercises east of the Miyako Strait. Beijing accused Japanese aircraft of repeatedly approaching and disrupting the exercises, thereby endangering flight safety. China doubled down on this position, claiming Japan was “maliciously following and harassing” the carrier group while falsely portraying China’s actions as aggressive. Beijing insisted its operations complied with international law and warned it would take “necessary measures” to protect its security interests.
The radar incident reflects intensifying regional tensions, particularly following statements by Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November 2025. Takaichi suggested Japan could intervene militarily if Taiwan faced attack, emphasizing the strategic linkage between Taiwan’s security and Japan’s national defense. This position represents a notable shift in Tokyo’s security posture and has drawn sharp responses from Beijing.
The confrontation occurs amid broader Chinese military activities throughout the region. Chinese warship deployments closer to critical sea lanes, including areas near the Strait of Malacca, have raised international concerns regarding freedom of navigation and energy security. China has simultaneously increased military pressure toward South Korea and the Philippines, suggesting a coordinated regional strategy.
No damage or injuries resulted from the December 6 incidents, but the encounters underscore the volatile nature of military operations in contested airspace and the potential for miscalculation in an increasingly crowded region.
Source ID: SRCE-2025-1765187778000-1231