Japan and Australia Call for Calm After Radar Incident with China

Japan and Australia have urged calm following an incident in which Chinese military aircraft locked radar onto Japanese fighter jets. This event occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions related to recent remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan. On November 12, 2023, Japan’s Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, formally protested the incident, labeling it “an extremely regrettable” act that exceeded safe operational limits for aircraft.

According to Japan’s Defense Ministry, the Chinese military aircraft, identified as a J-15, took off from the Chinese carrier Liaoning near the southern island of Okinawa on November 11. The J-15 reportedly locked its radar on Japanese F-15 fighter jets on two separate occasions: once for approximately three minutes in the late afternoon and again for about thirty minutes in the evening. While it remains unclear if the same aircraft was involved in both incidents, the Japanese jets had been scrambled to monitor the Chinese aircraft during exercises in the Pacific.

Despite the radar lock, there was no breach of Japanese airspace, and no injuries or damage were reported. Defense officials indicated that the Japanese jets maintained a safe distance from the Chinese aircraft and took no provocative actions during the radar lock incidents.

In response to the radar lock, senior Chinese military spokesperson Wang Xuemeng defended the training exercises, stating that they had been announced in advance. Wang accused Japanese aircraft of “harassment” and called for Japan to cease what he termed slanderous remarks. He emphasized that the Chinese Navy would take necessary measures to protect its security and interests.

Relations between Japan and China have been strained since Takaichi suggested in early November that Japan’s military may intervene if China were to take aggressive actions toward Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims. Both Japan and Australia expressed concern over the recent developments during a joint press conference held in Tokyo on November 12. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles stated, “We are deeply concerned by the actions of China in the last 24 hours” and emphasized the importance of safe and professional interactions in the region.

Marles also highlighted Australia’s interests in maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Straits, noting that China is Australia’s largest trading partner. He reiterated that Australia continues to advocate for calm and sensible dialogue with China.

During their discussions, Koizumi and Marles agreed to enhance military cooperation between Japan and Australia, aimed at strengthening regional defense ties. They committed to establishing a comprehensive framework for strategic defense coordination moving forward. Japan has been actively enhancing its military capabilities and expanding defense partnerships beyond its traditional ally, the United States, now considering Australia as a semi-ally.

On November 11, Marles visited a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Nagasaki, where he observed the production of the upgraded Mogami-class frigate, a vessel chosen by Australia in September as a replacement for its aging fleet.

The radar lock incident marks a significant moment in military interactions between Japan and China, believed to be the first of its kind involving military aircraft from both nations since a 2013 incident when a Chinese warship targeted a radar on a Japanese destroyer. Fighter jets typically utilize radar for search operations or fire control prior to launching missiles.

In a related development, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that Chinese forces fired three flares at a fisheries bureau plane on patrol in the South China Sea, further illustrating the tense dynamics in the region. Chinese forces often use flares to signal planes to move away from areas they consider their airspace.

The situation underscores the increasing complexity of military relations in the Pacific as nations navigate the challenges of regional security and sovereignty.