• Japan accuses Chinese fighter jets of locking radar onto its military aircraft over international waters.
• Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi labels the incidents 'dangerous' and a violation of air safety.
• The escalation follows tensions over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan security.

Japan's Ministry of Defence reported that Chinese military aircraft directed fire-control radar at Japanese F-15 fighter jets during two incidents over international waters southeast of Okinawa on Saturday. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi condemned the actions as "dangerous," expressing Japan's strong protest and demanding China take measures to prevent future occurrences, as this radar lock indicates a potential attack, forcing the targeted aircraft to take evasive action, according to Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, and South China Morning Post.

The incidents appear particularly alarming as they follow Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks, stating that a military attack on Taiwan could justify Japan's exercise of collective self-defense, further straining already tense relations between Tokyo and Beijing. Koizumi noted that Japan had scrambled its F-15 jets in response to the Chinese J-15 fighters, which were launched from the Liaoning aircraft carrier engaged in flight operations near Okinawa, according to Anadolu Agency and Reuters.

In a striking development, this marks the first time Japan has publicly accused Chinese military aircraft of using fire-control radar against its forces. The incidents reportedly took place during the Liaoning carrier battle group's transit through the Miyako Strait, signifying a heightened military presence and operations from China in the region, as noted by Koizumi and reported across several news outlets, including Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and Anadolu Agency.

The encounters have been labeled the most serious run-ins between the Japanese and Chinese militaries in years, heightening concerns over regional security dynamics. Military analysts suggest that the incidents reflect the growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific related to Taiwan and the presence of U.S. military forces in Japan, highlighting the strategic significance of these developments within the broader context of Sino-Japanese relations, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and South China Morning Post.