The United States has publicly criticized China for aiming military radars at Japanese aircraft during a training exercise near Japan’s Okinawa islands, marking Washington’s first direct condemnation of the incident as regional tensions continue to rise.
The radar targeting occurred last week during Chinese naval drills and has drawn sharp responses from Tokyo, while Beijing insists its actions were lawful and restrained. The dispute adds to growing strain in East Asia as friction deepens over Taiwan and contested maritime territory.
A US State Department spokesperson said late Tuesday that China’s conduct raised serious concerns.
“China’s actions are not conducive to regional peace and stability,” the spokesperson said, adding that the US Japan alliance remains united and that Washington is in close contact with Tokyo on the issue.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara welcomed the US statement, saying it underscored the strength of bilateral ties at a sensitive moment.
“These comments demonstrate the strong US Japan alliance,” Kihara said, as Japanese officials continue to describe the radar incident as dangerous and unprecedented in recent years.
According to Japanese authorities, Chinese fighter jets locked fire control radars onto Japanese military aircraft, a move widely viewed as a signal of potential attack that can force pilots to take evasive action.
China rejected Japan’s account and defended its military activity. Speaking in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Chinese training exercises were conducted safely and in accordance with international law.
He accused Japan of misleading the international community and said Japanese aircraft had repeatedly approached Chinese naval forces during previously announced carrier based flight drills east of the Miyako Strait.
“We hope the international community can tell right from wrong and will not be misled by the Japanese side,” Guo said.
The radar episode comes amid a surge in regional military activity. Japan said late Tuesday it scrambled fighter jets to monitor joint patrols by Russian and Chinese aircraft around its airspace.
On Wednesday, Japan’s coast guard reported spotting four Chinese coast guard vessels near the Japanese administered Senkaku islands in the East China Sea and said it was urging them to leave what Japan considers its territorial waters.
China’s coast guard said the ships were conducting a lawful operation to protect national rights. China refers to the uninhabited islands as the Diaoyu.
The incident follows remarks last month by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on how Tokyo might respond to a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan, comments that triggered strong objections from Beijing.
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China claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out using force. The self governed island lies just over 100 kilometers from southern Japan and sits along key sea lanes vital to Japanese trade and security.
With diplomatic exchanges sharpening and military encounters growing more frequent, officials on all sides say communication will be critical to preventing further escalation in the weeks ahead.