Japan's defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi and US counterpart Pete Hegseth agreed that recent Chinese military actions "are not conducive to regional peace" after Chinese jets locked radar on Japanese aircraft near Taiwan on December 6. Tokyo says it will respond calmly, rebut Beijing's account and keep dialogue channels open. The incident followed domestic remarks on Taiwan by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and was followed by joint China–Russia patrols and US–Japan drills that have heightened regional tensions.
US and Japan Say China's Military Moves Threaten Regional Peace After Radar Lock-On
US and Japanese military aircraft held a joint exercise over the Sea of Japan on Wednesday (Handout)(Handout/Japan's Ministry of Defense/AFP)
Japan's defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, and his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, warned that recent Chinese military actions "are not conducive to regional peace" during a telephone call following a December 6 incident in which Chinese aircraft locked radar on Japanese jets operating near Taiwan, Tokyo said on Friday.
What Happened
Tokyo reported that J-15 fighter jets from the Chinese carrier Liaoning twice locked radar onto Japanese aircraft that had scrambled in international waters near Okinawa. The episode came after comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Taiwan on November 7 that angered Beijing. Fighter radar is used both for targeting and search-and-rescue functions, and radar locks are widely viewed as escalatory.
Responses And Claims
The Japanese defence ministry said Hegseth and Koizumi "exchanged candid views on the increasingly severe security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, including the radar incident." Both officials "expressed serious concern over any actions to increase regional tensions, as China's actions are not conducive to regional peace and stability," the ministry added.
Koizumi on X: "I told Hegseth that China was disseminating information that is completely contrary to the facts. However, Japan has made clear that it does not seek escalation and that we are responding calmly while making necessary rebuttals, and we are keeping the door open for dialogue."
Beijing's foreign ministry countered that Japanese aircraft "intruded into the Chinese training area without authorisation, conducted close-range reconnaissance and harassment, created tense situations, and... maliciously hyped up the situation." Hegseth's office said the call also covered "China's military activities" and Japan's plans to increase defence spending and strengthen capabilities.
Regional Military Activity
Tokyo said two Russian Tu-95 long-range bombers flew from the Sea of Japan to rendezvous with two Chinese H-6 bombers in the East China Sea and then conducted a joint flight around Japan; Japan scrambled fighters in response. A day later, Japan and US air forces carried out joint "tactical exercises" over the Sea of Japan involving two US B-52 bombers, three Japanese F-35s and three Japanese F-15s. South Korea also reported that Russian and Chinese aircraft entered its air defence identification zone and dispatched fighters.
Beijing described the drills with Russia as part of "annual cooperation plans," while Moscow called the activity routine and said some foreign fighter jets shadowed the Russian and Chinese aircraft.
Outlook
The exchanges highlight rising tensions across the Indo-Pacific as allied militaries increase patrols and joint exercises in response to expanded Chinese activity and closer Beijing–Moscow coordination. Tokyo has emphasized it seeks to avoid escalation while rebutting Beijing's account and keeping diplomatic channels open.
