Japan Says Chinese Carrier Jets Twice Illuminated JASDF Fighters Near Okinawa

Overview

• Japan’s Defense Ministry reports two radar illuminations of JASDF F-15s over international waters southeast of Okinawa after a scramble response.
• Officials say the events occurred during Liaoning’s transit between Okinawa and Miyako as carrier-based J-15s conducted takeoff and landing drills.
• Okinawa Times reports the illuminations as intermittent from around 4:32 p.m. for three minutes and from about 6:37 p.m. for roughly 30 minutes on December 6.
• China’s Foreign Ministry says activating search radar during flight drills is standard for safety and accuses Japanese aircraft of intruding into a training area and interfering.
• Tokyo disputes Beijing’s account, calls the conduct dangerous and unprofessional with possible fire-control implications, and Japanese editorials note this is the first public disclosure of radar illumination against SDF aircraft, recalling a 2013 naval case and urging use of dialogue channels that remain underutilized.