Washington [US]/Tokyo [Japan], December 12 (ANI): US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi held a phone conversation to address “serious concerns” over rising regional tensions following a recent radar lock-on incident involving Japanese and Chinese fighter jets, as well as a long-range joint patrol conducted by Chinese and Russian bombers near Japan, according to readouts issued by both governments.
The call, which lasted about 40 minutes, concluded with both sides agreeing to maintain close communication to help stabilize the situation, Kyodo News reported.
According to a Pentagon readout, Hegseth and Koizumi also discussed Japan’s efforts to increase defense spending and strengthen capabilities, China’s expanding military activities, and the need for realistic training and exercises across Japan, including in the Southwest Islands. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the US-Japan alliance and underscored their commitment to deterring aggression in the Asia-Pacific region.
The radar incident occurred on December 6, when at least one Chinese fighter jet intermittently aimed its radar at Japanese Air Self-Defense Force aircraft over international waters off Okinawa Prefecture.
Speaking to reporters after the call, Koizumi said the most serious aspect of Saturday’s incident was that a Chinese J-15 locked its radar onto a Japanese F-15 for about 30 minutes during one of two encounters. He said Japan would continue nationwide patrol and surveillance operations and respond “calmly and resolutely” to any contingencies.
Both defense chiefs agreed that China’s actions were destabilizing and not conducive to peace in the region, and they emphasized continued coordination between Tokyo and Washington.
Hegseth and Koizumi also discussed Tuesday’s joint long-range patrol by two Chinese and two Russian bombers over the East China Sea and the Pacific near Japan’s Shikoku Island. According to Kyodo, they agreed the flights would further heighten regional tensions. Koizumi said Japan would “continue responding to those acts in a calm yet resolute manner while steadily carrying out surveillance activities in the seas and airspace surrounding our country.”
The rise in military tensions between Beijing and Tokyo follows comments last month by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who told Parliament that Japan could take military action if Taiwan were attacked. The remarks sparked strong protests and economic and diplomatic retaliation from Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control.
About The Author
