Overview
- Japan’s Defense Ministry says a Chinese J-15 from the carrier Liaoning illuminated the radar of a JASDF F-15 on Dec. 6 while the Japanese jet responded to an airspace violation near Okinawa.
- Tokyo lodged strong protests through diplomatic and defense channels and Defense Minister Koizumi said China has not provided sufficient information about the encounter.
- The ministry confirmed the Liaoning conducted about 100 carrier flight takeoffs and landings over two days between Okinawa’s main island and Minami Daito, the first confirmation of such operations in that sea area.
- The U.S. State Department criticized the Chinese action as not contributing to regional peace and stability, and a Democratic member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee asked President Trump to publicly support Japan.
- Separately, Japan categorically denied a Politico report that it rejected using frozen Russian assets at a G7 finance meeting, and Hokkaido’s governor announced consent to restart Tomari Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 with safety as a precondition.