Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning's J-15 fighter jet locks radar on Japanese Air Force F-15 fighter twice； Tokyo protests to Beijing
2025/12/07 02:54 JST (Updated 2025/12/07 05:29 JST)
Japan and China have been exchanging harsh words over Taiwan since PM Tkaitchi stated that if Taiwan’s security is threatened by Chinese invasion, it would be regarded as a critical issue of Japanese security.
China’s J (upper)-15 and Japan’s F-15
The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Defense Minister Koizumi held an emergency press conference in the early hours of the 7th, revealing that on the afternoon of December 6, a J-15 fighter jet launched from the Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier Liaoning twice directed radar at an Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jet over international waters southeast of Okinawa Island. The Japanese government protested to China via diplomatic and defense channels on December 7, calling it a dangerous act that could lead to unforeseen incidents.
Defense Minister Koizumi explains the radar lock incident involving a Chinese military aircraft (early morning of the 7th, at the Ministry of Defense)
This is the first time the Japanese government has publicly disclosed an incident where a Self-Defense Forces aircraft was locked on by radar from a Chinese military aircraft. According to the Ministry of Defense, the first radar lock occurred from around 4:32 PM to around 4:35 PM on the 6th. The second lock occurred from around 6:37 PM to around 7:08 PM, targeting a different Self-Defense Forces aircraft.
In both cases, the SDF aircraft detected the locking. The Japanese and Chinese fighter jets were at a distance beyond visual range. There was no damage to the SDF aircraft or personnel.
The Liaoning was confirmed sailing near Kuba Island, west of Okinawa Island, on the afternoon of the 5th. On the morning of the 6th, it passed between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island, accompanied by three missile destroyers, and entered the Pacific Ocean. Subsequently, around 270 kilometers west of Okidaito Island, carrier-based fighters and helicopters took off and landed, prompting Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) fighters to scramble.
Fighter aircraft radars are used not only for fire control to lock onto targets as part of the preparation for firing, but also for search operations. However, because the radar was intermittently locked on for a certain period of time, the Ministry of Defense judged it to be a dangerous act targeting the SDF aircraft. At a press conference, Koizumi stated, “This was a dangerous act exceeding the scope necessary for the safe flight of aircraft, and it is extremely regrettable.”
Regarding the Chinese military, a similar incident occurred in January 2013 when a frigate directed its fire control radar at a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer.
(Translated by this blog)
