KATHMANDU: The defense ministers of the United States and Japan have expressed strong concern over China’s recent military activities, saying they are “not conducive to regional peace and stability”.
According to Japan’s Defense Ministry, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi spoke by phone on Friday following a radar-locking incident involving Chinese aircraft and Japanese jets near Taiwan on December 6.
The episode occurred amid heightened tensions triggered by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks indicating Japan could intervene militarily if China attacks Taiwan — a statement that angered Beijing.
Radar-locking sparks alarm
Japan said Chinese J-15 jets from the Liaoning aircraft carrier twice locked fire-control radar on Japanese planes scrambling in international waters near Okinawa. Radar lock is considered a serious act because it is often used to prepare for missile firing.
China, however, accused Japan of “intruding into Chinese training areas” and conducting close-range reconnaissance.
Koizumi said on X that China was spreading “information completely contrary to the facts,” but stressed that Japan was avoiding escalation while keeping “the door open for dialogue”.
Joint Chinese–Russian patrols add to tensions
The radar incident was followed this week by joint Chinese–Russian air patrols around Japan. Tokyo said two Russian Tu-95 bombers and two Chinese H-6 bombers conducted a coordinated flight around the country, prompting Japan to scramble fighter jets.
South Korea also reported that Chinese and Russian aircraft entered its air defense zone on the same day, forcing Seoul to deploy its own jets.
Beijing and Moscow called the patrols part of “routine annual cooperation plans”.
US backs Japan as Tokyo boosts defenses
Hegseth’s office said the two ministers discussed China’s military activities as well as Japan’s plans to strengthen defense spending and expand its capabilities.
In a show of coordination, Japan and the United States carried out joint tactical air drills on Wednesday involving two US B-52 bombers and six Japanese fighter jets over the Sea of Japan.
The Indo-Pacific region has seen heightened military signaling in recent weeks, with all sides conducting air operations amid concerns that miscalculation could aggravate already rising tensions.
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