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Japan Says China Aimed Military Radar at Ship Japan Says China Aimed Military Radar at Ship
(about 4 hours later)
TOKYO — Japan said Tuesday that a Chinese military vessel trained a radar used to help direct weapons last week on a Japanese naval vessel near disputed islands in the East China Sea. The Japanese Defense Ministry also said that a Chinese frigate directed the same kind of radar at one of Japan’s military helicopters in a previously undisclosed episode on Jan. 19.TOKYO — Japan said Tuesday that a Chinese military vessel trained a radar used to help direct weapons last week on a Japanese naval vessel near disputed islands in the East China Sea. The Japanese Defense Ministry also said that a Chinese frigate directed the same kind of radar at one of Japan’s military helicopters in a previously undisclosed episode on Jan. 19.
In both cases, the Japanese government said, the Chinese ships eventually turned off the radar without firing, but the defense minister, Itsunori Onodera, warned that such actions increased the chances that any missteps in a dispute over the islands could veer into a larger confrontation.In both cases, the Japanese government said, the Chinese ships eventually turned off the radar without firing, but the defense minister, Itsunori Onodera, warned that such actions increased the chances that any missteps in a dispute over the islands could veer into a larger confrontation.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense did not answer calls about Japan’s claims about the use of the radar, and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had no immediate comment. The Chinese Ministry of Defense did not answer calls regarding Japan’s claims about the use of the radar, and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had no immediate comment.
Mr. Onodera said that in the latest episode, a Chinese Navy frigate directed its fire-control radar at a Japanese destroyer on Jan. 30 near the islands known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China that are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan.Mr. Onodera said that in the latest episode, a Chinese Navy frigate directed its fire-control radar at a Japanese destroyer on Jan. 30 near the islands known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China that are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan.
The Defense Ministry said the Chinese ship’s radar was turned on for “a matter of minutes” and there was no communication between the two ships, before or after. It said the Japanese ship responded to the radar signal with “standard evasive maneuvers.” The Defense Ministry said that the Chinese ship’s radar was turned on for “a matter of minutes” and that there was no communication between the two ships, before or after. It said the Japanese ship responded to the radar signal with “standard evasive maneuvers.”
“One step in the wrong direction could have pushed things into a dangerous situation,” Mr. Onodera told reporters about the use of the radar.“One step in the wrong direction could have pushed things into a dangerous situation,” Mr. Onodera told reporters about the use of the radar.
Japanese officials said the use of such radar a threatening gesture that signified an increase in tensions, which have been growing since the Japanese government announced last year that it would buy three of the five uninhabited islands from a Japanese citizen. Japan has controlled the islands for decades. The Chinese responded to that move by sending paramilitary surveillance ships almost daily into or near Japanese-claimed waters around the islands, where they engage in cat-and-mouse maneuvers with Japanese Coast Guard ships. Japanese officials said the use of such radar was a threatening gesture that signified an increase in tensions, which have been growing since Japan’s government announced last year that it would buy three of the five uninhabited islands from a Japanese citizen. Japan has controlled the islands for decades. The Chinese responded to that move by sending paramilitary surveillance ships almost daily into or near Japanese-claimed waters around the islands, where they engage in cat-and-mouse maneuvers with Japanese Coast Guard ships.
On Monday, a senior Chinese military commander said protecting China’s “core national interest” at sea was an “unshakable mission” of the People’s Liberation Army. “No country should underestimate the staunch will of the Chinese nation to defend its national sovereignty,” said the commander, Qi Jianguo, a deputy chief of general staff. On Monday, a senior Chinese military commander, Qi Jianguo, said protecting China’s “core national interest” at sea was an “unshakable mission.” He added, “No country should underestimate the staunch will of the Chinese nation to defend its national sovereignty.”
The dispute between the two countries grew more heated in December when Chinese surveillance aircraft began flying near the islands. Tensions rose another notch last month, when Japan and China both scrambled fighter jets that briefly monitored each other. The dispute between the countries intensified in December when Chinese surveillance aircraft began flying near the islands. Tensions rose another notch last month, when Japan and China scrambled fighter jets.
The most recent reported radar action would be among the first to involve naval warships from both nations, which had until now been kept in the background to avoid a dangerous escalation. With tensions so high, military experts in Japan and the United States say their biggest fear is some accident or miscalculation resulting in an unintended exchange of fire.The most recent reported radar action would be among the first to involve naval warships from both nations, which had until now been kept in the background to avoid a dangerous escalation. With tensions so high, military experts in Japan and the United States say their biggest fear is some accident or miscalculation resulting in an unintended exchange of fire.
The Chinese incursions are seen by Japanese political leaders and analysts as part of a new strategy to press Japan into officially acknowledging that a territorial dispute exists, something Tokyo has refused to do. They also say that by maintaining a nearly constant presence, China hopes to undermine Japan’s claims to be in sole control of the islands. The Chinese incursions are seen by Japanese political leaders and analysts as part of a new strategy to press Japan into officially acknowledging that a territorial dispute exists. They also say that by maintaining a nearly constant presence, China hopes to undermine Japan’s claims to be in sole control of the islands.
Japan has responded by stepping up its own surveillance, which includes keeping a small flotilla of coast guard ships near the islands, which are between Okinawa and Taiwan. Japan has responded by stepping up its own surveillance, including keeping a small flotilla of coast guard ships near the islands, which are between Okinawa and Taiwan.
The purchase of the islands in September set off violent protests in China, where the islands are seen by many as the last pieces of Chinese territory to remain in Japanese hands from its foray into empire building in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Japan says that China showed interest in the islands only after undersea oil and natural gas deposits were discovered nearby in the last 1960s. The purchase of the islands in September set off violent protests in China, where the islands are seen by many as the last pieces of Chinese territory to remain in Japanese hands from its foray into empire building. Japan says China showed interest in the islands only after undersea oil and natural gas deposits were discovered.

Gerry Mullany and Chris Buckley contributed reporting from Hong Kong, and Bree Feng contributed research from Beijing.

Gerry Mullany and Chris Buckley contributed reporting from Hong Kong. Bree Feng contributed research from Beijing.