Japan did not aim radar at Chinese jets, defense minister says

Japanese fighter jets did not aim radar at Chinese jets during Saturday's close encounter incidents, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Wednesday, responding to a Chinese media report disputing Japan's account on the event.

Kantaro Komiya/Reuters

10 December 2025 at 02:12:13

Japan did not aim radar at Chinese jets, defense minister says

FILE PHOTO: Printed Chinese and Japanese flags are seen in this illustration, July 21, 2022.

Dado Ruvic/Reuters

TOKYO - Japanese fighter jets did not aim radar at Chinese jets during Saturday's close encounter incidents, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Wednesday, in response to a Chinese media report disputing Japan's account on the event.

Prior to the incidents, a Chinese navy vessel had notified Japanese counterparts of air drills without giving details, but regardless of the notification, it was natural for Japan to scramble jets as part of air defense measures, Koizumi told reporters.

Japan has said Chinese fighter jets from the aircraft carrier Liaoning on Saturday aimed their radar at Japanese planes in two incidents near Japan's Okinawa islands.

Kantaro Komiya/Reuters