In one of the most serious military confrontations in recent months, Japan has accused Chinese fighter jets of locking their fire-control radar onto Japanese F-15s near Okinawa—an escalation that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says will be met with a “calm yet resolute” response.

As tensions rise throughout the Indo-Pacific and concerns grow about China’s military activities around Taiwan and the East China Sea, the weekend confrontation has intensified an already fragile diplomatic atmosphere between Asia’s two largest powers.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon southeast of Okinawa’s main islands—an area increasingly at the center of military friction. Chinese J-15 fighter jets, operating from the aircraft carrier Liaoning, allegedly aimed their fire-control radar—a system typically used in preparation for missile targeting—at Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-15s twice, first at 4:32pm and again roughly two hours later.

While Japanese officials say visual confirmation was not possible at such range, radar data strongly suggests a hostile lock-on. No damage or injuries were reported, but defense analysts note that this type of radar illumination is considered one step away from a potential attack.

It is also the first time Japan has publicly disclosed a Chinese radar lock incident, marking a significant shift toward transparency—and warning—about China’s increasingly assertive military posture.

Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi called the event “dangerous and extremely regrettable,” emphasizing that the radar actions “went beyond what is necessary for safe aircraft operations.”

Immediately following the report, Japan summoned China’s ambassador, Wu Jianghao, to lodge a formal protest. Vice-Foreign Minister Funakoshi Takehiro criticized China’s “dangerous and unacceptable actions,” warning that such moves heighten the risk of unintended military confrontation.

Beijing, however, strongly rejects Japan’s accusations, counter-claiming that Japanese forces were the ones provoking tension.

Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang of the PLA accused Japan of “maliciously following and harassing” the Liaoning carrier group during routine “far-sea training.” Chinese officials argue that Japan repeatedly sent aircraft into training zones that China claims were publicly announced in advance.

A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Tokyo of “hyping up” a fabricated radar incident to “mislead the international community” and justify its security agenda—particularly regarding Taiwan.

This radar-lock episode did not emerge in a vacuum. It follows several weeks of spiraling diplomatic disputes touched off by Prime Minister Takaichi’s recent comments indicating that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger Japanese military involvement under the country’s expanded right to collective self-defense.

These remarks—while consistent with Japan’s evolving security posture—sparked sharp backlash from Beijing. China responded with:

Former U.S. President Donald Trump even intervened diplomatically, urging Takaichi to avoid escalating the dispute. But the prime minister has stood firm, stating that Japan must prepare for “the worst-case scenario in the Taiwan Strait” while insisting that her position simply reiterates existing defensive policy.

This political backdrop makes the radar-lock incident not just a military matter—but a symbol of a deeper regional power struggle.

For Japan, the confrontation underscores longstanding concerns about the PLA’s increasing presence around Okinawa and the East China Sea. Tokyo has spent years strengthening air and maritime surveillance, investing in new fighter jets, and expanding joint military drills with the United States and regional partners.

For China, the encounter is framed as a justified response to what it sees as Japan’s growing alignment with U.S. military strategy and its expressions of support for Taiwan.

The result is a volatile environment where miscalculation—not intent—could spark a larger crisis.

Prime Minister Takaichi promised that Japan will respond “calmly and resolutely,” emphasizing that Tokyo will:

While neither Japan nor China appears to desire direct military conflict, both are firmly committed to their respective territorial and strategic positions. As a result, the skies over Okinawa—and the waters around the Senkaku Islands—remain a flashpoint.

With Taiwan’s future hanging in the balance and great-power competition intensifying across the region, the radar-lock incident may be remembered not as an isolated confrontation, but as another step in an unfolding geopolitical contest redefining security in the Indo-Pacific.