In the early hours of December 7, 2025, the Japanese Ministry of Defense held a rare impromptu press conference, revealing that fighter jets launched from the Chinese aircraft carrier “Liaoning” had twice conducted radar illumination on Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft on December 6. The Ministry criticized this act as “a dangerous behavior beyond the requirements of safe flying.” Experts have warned that this action is a serious provocation, as it is unpredictable how the other party may respond, potentially leading to a dangerous escalation.
According to the announcement from the Japanese Ministry of Defense, on the afternoon of the 6th between 4:32 and 4:35 PM, Jian-15 fighter jets (J-15) launched from the Chinese “Liaoning” carrier intermittently illuminated the F-15 fighter jets of the Air Self-Defense Force in the open sea southeast of Okinawa Island. Another F-15 fighter jet was also subjected to intermittent radar illumination by a Chinese military aircraft between 6:37 and 7:08 PM on the same day.
Reports from Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) indicated that at the time of the incidents, the distance between the fighter jets was beyond visible range. Fortunately, neither the Self-Defense Force aircraft nor the pilots were harmed.
Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono convened an emergency press conference in the early hours of the 7th, stating, “This behavior goes beyond the necessary parameters for safe aircraft operations, and we deeply regret the occurrence of such events. We have strongly protested to the Chinese side and sternly demanded to prevent such incidents from happening again.”
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that while it is difficult to predict China’s intentions, even for location confirmation based on safety considerations, there is no need for intermittent radar illumination, which constitutes “a dangerous behavior that exceeds the requirements of safe flying.”
It was noted by the Defense Ministry that while Self-Defense Force aircraft have previously faced radar illumination from ground or naval sources, this was the first instance where such actions were taken by a Chinese military aircraft, prompting the public disclosure of the incidents.
In addition to targeting during the shooting phase, radar on fighter jets can also be used for various purposes such as search operations. The intermittent nature of the radar illumination in this case led the Defense Ministry to assess it as a dangerous behavior targeting the Self-Defense Force aircraft. Some Japanese military analysts even interpreted this as the Chinese military aircraft locking onto the Self-Defense Force jets.
According to reports from the Central News Agency, retired Air Force Colonel and F-16 (Block 20) fighter jet instructor Yang-De Huang expressed that without specific orders from superiors, pilots would not easily engage in “lock-on” actions. Locking onto a target would involve sharing fire control data with weapon systems, potentially escalating to a “launch” phase, making it a serious provocation even without actual firing.
Huang explained that locking on is highly risky as the reaction from the other side is unpredictable, and the response or countermeasures of the target aircraft remain unknown, increasing the risk of accidental escalation.
Back in June this year, a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol aircraft was provocatively approached by J-15 fighter jets from the Chinese aircraft carrier “Shandong” in the international waters of the Pacific, demonstrating escalating actions from Beijing in the region.
In response to these incidents, legislator Guan-Ting Chen remarked that recent actions by China are heightening tensions in East Asia. From abruptly restricting Chinese tourist groups from visiting Japan, to imposing substantial restrictions on Japanese seafood imports under the guise of inspections, and now with J-15 fighter jets twice using fire-control radar to lock onto Japanese Self-Defense Force F-15 jets in the open seas. Chen noted a combination of diplomatic pressures, economic coercion, and military provocations indicating a systematic approach rather than isolated incidents.
Chen emphasized that Japan being locked onto by radar is not a routine military engagement but denotes a dangerous act with aggressive intent, which could easily lead to misjudgments and potential escalation. He called on China to refrain from unilaterally escalating the situation.
Chen criticized China for using outbound tourism as a political tool while simultaneously exerting pressure through seafood inspections, actions that disrupt regional trade order. By adding military provocations towards Japanese aircraft, regional countries are forced to heighten their vigilance, causing a decline in trust towards China internationally.
He reiterated Taiwan’s clear stance that peace requires transparency, restraint, and genuine dialogue, rather than employing administrative, economic, and military means simultaneously to pressure others. The incident targeting Japan today could be any country navigating or flying in the Indo-Pacific region tomorrow.
Chen underscored that Japan and Taiwan are not the disruptors of rules or the status quo, but it is the multiple coercive actions taken by China that are altering the landscape. He stressed that only by making China understand the consequences of its behavior can regional stability be maintained and further dangerous escalations be avoided. Taiwan stands ready to cooperate with Japan and like-minded nations to preserve stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.