Japan's Ministry of Defense reported an incident near Okinawa. Japanese fighter jets were involved in an incident with Chinese fighters over international waters south of the Japanese island of Okinawa. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated that Chinese fighters used their radar against two Japanese military aircraft. «Illuminating the radar constitutes a dangerous act that exceeds the scope necessary for the safe flight of the aircraft. We deeply regret that such an incident occurred and have filed a strong protest with the Chinese side,» the statement read. The incident occurred amid rising tensions between Tokyo and Beijing following a November statement by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that a Chinese military attack on Taiwan could justify a Japanese Self-Defense Forces intervention. In response, China applied economic and cultural pressure, including travel warnings to Japan, a ban on Japanese seafood imports, and the suspension of licenses for films and concerts from the neighboring country. Later, Minister Koizumi stated that his country will respond to the incident «calmly». «We will respond with determination and calm to maintain peace and stability in the region,» he said at a press conference.
