A Chinese J-15 fighter jet similar to the one which had a radar lock-on against a Self-Defense Force jet (Provided by Defense Ministry)

EDITORIAL: Calm response needed by Japan, China to avert an accidental clash

（社説）レーダー照射　日中　衝突防ぐ冷静さを

A Chinese fighter jet locked its radar on a Self-Defense Forces aircraft over international waters southeast of the main Okinawa island on Dec. 6.

We can never accept this extremely dangerous and provocative act, which might have led to a clash because the act could be deemed preparation for firing.

The Chinese navy and air force are now regularly moving into the western Pacific and tensions continue with the SDF, which conducts surveillance and patrol.

There is a need to create a framework for a calm response that can prevent an unintentional incident. 

According to government officials, the radar lock-on came from a J-15 fighter jet that took off from the Liaoning aircraft carrier, which was on a training exercise.

The radar lock-on occurred intermittently on two occasions against an Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jet that had scrambled to guard against an airspace violation.

Officials said there was a high possibility that the Chinese jet was in the fire-control mode that designates a target for shooting.

Because that is a sign that an attack was possible, an ASDF source described it as facing a firearm with the holder having his finger on the trigger.

It is only natural that the government lodged a protest against China, saying the act was dangerous because it exceeded the limit needed for safe flights by aircraft and asked that a recurrence be prevented.

While China said the SDF aircraft was approaching the training area and threatening safety, that is not a legitimate justification for initiating a radar lock-on. 

The Chinese military has been in lockstep with the stronger criticism by the Chinese government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for her comment about a military contingency involving Taiwan as well as various retaliatory measures taken.

But there is likely a need to carefully determine whether the latest act is directly linked to such past moves.

In recent years, China has strengthened its naval capability and has rapidly advanced into the western Pacific because Chinese President Xi Jinping is taking steps to prevent the U.S. military from approaching as China strives to achieve its top priority of unifying Taiwan.

Beijing in November launched the Fujian, its third aircraft carrier, and there are reports that it is constructing a fourth.

If the opportunities for contact with the SDF on surveillance duties should increase, that would correspondingly heighten the possibility of an unexpected incident.

In June, aircraft from the Shandong aircraft carrier on two occasions came unusually close to a Maritime SDF patrol aircraft.

In March 2023, Japan and China established a hotline between military officers of the two nations, but it has not been functioning properly.

The hotline was not used in the latest incident because of a difference in understanding about how it should be utilized.

A misunderstanding of the other nation’s intentions could cause an accidental clash that might further escalate.

The two nations should become much more serious about installing an effective hotline.

Takaichi said her administration would respond “calmly yet resolutely.”

To encourage communications between the defense officials of the two nations, dialogue between the top leaders as well as defense ministers will be important.

Such officials should take the lead in fulfilling their political responsibility.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 9

沖縄本島南東の公海上空で６日、中国軍機が自衛隊機にレーダー照射を行った。射撃の準備と受け止められ、偶発的な衝突にもつながりかねない極めて危険な挑発行為である。決して容認できない。
　中国海空軍の西太平洋への進出は常態化しており、警戒・監視を続ける自衛隊との間で緊張が続く。意図せざる衝突を防ぐ冷静な対応と枠組みづくりが不可欠だ。
　日本側の説明によれば、照射を行ったのは、演習中の中国空母「遼寧」から発艦したＪ１５戦闘機。領空侵犯に備えて緊急発進した航空自衛隊のＦ１５戦闘機に対し、２回にわたり断続的に行われた。
　射撃目標を定める火器管制用モードだった可能性が高いという。攻撃されうるというサインであり、航空自衛隊関係者は「拳銃の銃口を向けられ、引き金に手をかけられた状態」と例える。政府が「航空機の安全な飛行に必要な範囲を超える危険な行為」として、中国側に抗議し、再発防止を求めたのは当然だ。
　中国側は「訓練区域に自衛隊機が接近し、安全を脅かした」と批判するが、照射の正当な理由にはならない。
　高市首相の台湾有事に関する発言を契機に、中国政府は日本側への対抗措置や、高市政権への批判を強めており、軍も同調している。ただ今回の事態が、直接連動したものなのかどうかは、慎重に見極める必要があろう。
　中国軍は近年、海軍力を強化し、西太平洋への進出を急拡大させている。台湾統一を最重要目標とする習近平（シーチンピン）政権が、米軍の接近阻止に力を入れているためだ。１１月には３隻目の空母「福建」が就役、４隻目の建造も伝えられる。
　監視活動に当たる自衛隊との接点が増えれば、その分、不測の事態が生じる可能性も高まる。６月には、空母「山東」の艦載機が２回、海上自衛隊の哨戒機に異常接近する事案があったばかりだ。
　日中両政府は２３年３月、防衛当局間のホットラインを開設したが、ほとんど機能していないという。運用の仕方をめぐり、双方に認識のズレがあり、今回の件でも、使われることはなかったようだ。
　互いの意図を見誤ることで、偶発的な衝突が起き、事態がエスカレートする恐れがある。今こそ両国は本気で、ホットラインを実効性あるものにしなければならない。
　今回の事態を受け、首相は「冷静かつ毅然（きぜん）と対応する」と述べた。防衛当局間の意思疎通を促すためにも、首脳や防衛相レベルでの対話が重要となる。率先して政治の責任を果たしてもらいたい。

(2025年12月9日)