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| Japan-China islands dispute: Abe condemns radar lock | Japan-China islands dispute: Abe condemns radar lock |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Japan's prime minister has called the decision by a Chinese frigate to put a radar lock on a Japanese navy ship a "dangerous act". | Japan's prime minister has called the decision by a Chinese frigate to put a radar lock on a Japanese navy ship a "dangerous act". |
| Shinzo Abe told parliament the move could have led to an "unpredictable situation" and called for Chinese "self-restraint". | Shinzo Abe told parliament the move could have led to an "unpredictable situation" and called for Chinese "self-restraint". |
| The incident happened near disputed East China Sea islands last week. | The incident happened near disputed East China Sea islands last week. |
| The Chinese foreign ministry said it was not aware of the details, but said Japan should stop "illegal" activities. | The Chinese foreign ministry said it was not aware of the details, but said Japan should stop "illegal" activities. |
| "In recent days, Japan has on many occasions deployed aircraft and ships and illegally entered Chinese waters around the Diaoyu Islands," spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. | "In recent days, Japan has on many occasions deployed aircraft and ships and illegally entered Chinese waters around the Diaoyu Islands," spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. |
| "China has made representations on many occasions and requested Japan stop its illegal activities." | "China has made representations on many occasions and requested Japan stop its illegal activities." |
| The US has voiced concern over the incident, which comes with ties between Beijing and Tokyo severely strained. | The US has voiced concern over the incident, which comes with ties between Beijing and Tokyo severely strained. |
| The radar equipment is used to pinpoint the location of a target for missiles. Once the radar is locked on, weapons can be fired immediately. | |
| 'Dangerous situation' | 'Dangerous situation' |
| Mr Abe called on China to avoid an "unnecessary escalation" in the territorial row, which centres on a chain of islands that both claim. | Mr Abe called on China to avoid an "unnecessary escalation" in the territorial row, which centres on a chain of islands that both claim. |
| "At a time when it seemed there are signs of improvement towards increasing talks between Japan and China, having this sort of one-sided provocative action taken by the Chinese is extremely regrettable," he said. | "At a time when it seemed there are signs of improvement towards increasing talks between Japan and China, having this sort of one-sided provocative action taken by the Chinese is extremely regrettable," he said. |
| Japan controls the islands, which it calls the Senkaku islands, while China calls them the Diaoyu islands. Taiwan also claims the island chain, known as Diaoyutai in Taipei. | Japan controls the islands, which it calls the Senkaku islands, while China calls them the Diaoyu islands. Taiwan also claims the island chain, known as Diaoyutai in Taipei. |
| The row over their ownership has rumbled on for years but reignited in September 2012 when the Japanese government purchased three of them from their private Japanese owner. | The row over their ownership has rumbled on for years but reignited in September 2012 when the Japanese government purchased three of them from their private Japanese owner. |
| Since then, Chinese government vessels have been sailing in and out of what Japan says are its territorial waters, prompting warnings from Tokyo and raising concerns over a clash. | Since then, Chinese government vessels have been sailing in and out of what Japan says are its territorial waters, prompting warnings from Tokyo and raising concerns over a clash. |
| On Tuesday, Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said a Chinese navy frigate had locked its weapon-targeting radar on a Japanese navy ship on 30 January, prompting Tokyo to protest to Beijing. | On Tuesday, Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said a Chinese navy frigate had locked its weapon-targeting radar on a Japanese navy ship on 30 January, prompting Tokyo to protest to Beijing. |
| He said a Japanese military helicopter was also targeted with a similar type of radar by another Chinese frigate on 19 January. | He said a Japanese military helicopter was also targeted with a similar type of radar by another Chinese frigate on 19 January. |
| "Directing such radar is very abnormal. We recognise it would create a very dangerous situation if a single mis-step occurred," he said. | "Directing such radar is very abnormal. We recognise it would create a very dangerous situation if a single mis-step occurred," he said. |
| The US warned that the row threatened regional stability. | The US warned that the row threatened regional stability. |
| "With regard to the reports of this particular lock-on incident, actions such as this escalate tensions and increase the risk of an incident or a miscalculation, and they could undermine peace, stability and economic growth in this vital region," said US state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland . |