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The Japanese leader, Sanae Takaichi, vowed to respond "with calm determination" following accusations that Chinese military jets targeted with fire-control radar Japan's F-15s southeast of Okinawa's primary island during the weekend.

An Concerning Incident Reported

According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense, Chinese J-15 fighter aircraft from the aircraft carrier Liaoning activated its fire-control radar on Japan's F-15s on two occasions last Saturday. The first incident took place at 4:32 p.m. and was repeated about two hours. The ministry noted that visual confirmation could not be obtained because of the range involved, adding that there was no damage or injuries were reported.

"It marked an unprecedented instance the Japanese Ministry of Defense has made public such an incident," one news agency stated. Military aircraft commonly use radar for tracking purposes.

Official Objection and Denials

Reacting to the allegations, the Chinese navy issued a statement rejecting the report as "completely inconsistent with reality." It urged Japan to "cease slandering and smearing." Conversely, Beijing asserted that Japanese Self-Defense Forces planes had "posed a grave risk to flight safety" by consistently flying near its exercise areas. Beijing did not mention any radar targeting.

An official for China's foreign ministry later called on Japan to "immediately stop its dangerous moves of interfering with our routine military exercise and training."

Escalating Tensions and Broader Context

Relations between China and Japan have deteriorated markedly in recent weeks. This cooling came after Prime Minister Takaichi stated that an attack on Taiwan might lead to the dispatch of Japanese military should the situation posed an existential threat to the nation.

She argued that Japan could invoke its right to collective self-defence, which involves coming to the aid of a partner under attack. The Prime Minister stated that Japan had to "prepare for a worst-case scenario" regarding the Taiwan Strait.

The Japanese Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, described Saturday's radar incident as "dangerous and extremely regrettable." Subsequently, the Chinese ambassador to Japan, Wu Jianghao, was called in the following day.

Japan's vice minister for foreign affairs, Funakoshi Takehiro, lodged a "formal complaint" and demanded Beijing to "ensure that such acts are not repeated."

Enduring Points of Contention

The two nations have a protracted territorial dispute over a group of islands, called the Diaoyu in China. The small, unoccupied islets are situated between Okinawa and Taiwan.

Furthermore, regional frictions persist. Japan is deepening cooperation with American and its partners in the Asia-Pacific region, a region where a number of countries have their own maritime) disagreements with Beijing.

Beijing, for its part, maintains vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, a posture that has prompted criticism and legal challenges.