TOKYO — Japan said early Sunday that it has protested to China after a military jet that took off from the Chinese carrier Liaoning locked its radar on Japanese fighter jets near the southern island of Okinawa, the latest spat between the two countries whose ties have plunged recently over the Japanese leader\u2019s Taiwan remarks.<\/p>\n
Japan\u2019s Defense Ministry said China\u2019s military aircraft J-15 \u201cintermittently\u201d targeted its radar at Japanese F-15 fighter jets on two occasions Saturday \u2014 for about three minutes in the late afternoon and for about 30 minutes in the evening.<\/p>\n
The radar lock by the Chinese aircraft was detected by different Japanese fighters that had scrambled against a possible airspace violation by China, according to the ministry. There was no breach of Japanese airspace, and no injury or damage was reported from the incident. <\/p>\n
It was not known whether the radar lock incident involved the same Chinese J-15 both times.<\/p>\n
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, briefing reporters in the early hours of Sunday, said Japan protested to China over the radar lock, calling it \u201ca dangerous act that exceeded the scope necessary for safe aircraft operations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe occurrence of such an incident is extremely regrettable,\u201d Koizumi said. \u201cWe have lodged a strong protest with the Chinese side and demanded strict preventive measures.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was no immediate comment from the Chinese government or military. On Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the Chinese navy operates in accordance with international law and that others shouldn’t hype up its activities.<\/p>\n
The latest incident comes as relations between the two countries have worsened in recent weeks. <\/p>\n