Overview
- China’s Foreign Ministry urged Japan to immediately stop what it called dangerous actions that interfered with the PLA Navy’s announced training, lodging a diplomatic representation with Tokyo.
- Japan’s cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara rejected Beijing’s accusations as unfounded and said Self-Defense Forces fighters carried out their mission at a safe distance.
- Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said two Chinese J-15s from the carrier Liaoning locked radar on Japanese F-15s southeast of Okinawa over international waters on December 6, lasting about three minutes and then 31 minutes two hours later.
- The PLA Navy said Japanese military aircraft repeatedly approached the exercise area east of the Miyako Strait, disrupting routine drills and endangering flight safety.
- Officials in both capitals reported no damage or injuries, and there were no announced steps toward de-escalation as public blame-trading continued.