Beijing Accuses Japan of Shifting Narrative in Military Radar Incident Dispute

Beijing, China – Dec. 11, 2025 – China’s Foreign Ministry, through spokesperson Guo Jiakun, escalated rhetoric against Japan yesterday, asserting that Tokyo is deliberately misrepresenting facts and acting inconsistently regarding a recent alleged “radar illumination” incident involving a Chinese military aircraft. The accusations, delivered during a regular Wednesday press briefing in Beijing, focused on Japan’s perceived evasiveness about its operational conduct near Chinese exercise zones and its shifting stance on prior notification for the military activities.

The core of the dispute centers on an incident where Japan accused a Chinese aircraft of subjecting a Japanese vessel or aircraft to “radar illumination.” China maintains that its actions were legitimate, while Beijing’s Foreign Ministry is now focusing on Japan’s alleged duplicity in the aftermath.

China Questions Japan’s Intentions and Transparency

Guo Jiakun emphasized that Beijing’s position has been repeatedly and clearly communicated, stressing that “the facts are very clear.” He highlighted a significant contradiction in Japan’s official statements. Initially, Tokyo claimed it had received no advance notice from China regarding military exercises in the area. However, according to Guo, Japan has since acknowledged receiving prior notification, a shift the spokesperson suggests points to an underlying attempt to mislead international observers.

“Tokyo has yet to explain why, despite prior notice, it deployed fighter aircraft into China’s exercise and training zone to conduct close-in reconnaissance, disrupt activities, and inflate tensions, before engaging in what we term ‘malicious hype,’” Guo stated.

He openly questioned whether Japan’s actions are an effort to “deflect attention and mislead the international community.” The spokesperson urged Tokyo to directly address what Beijing views as fundamental obstacles in the China-Japan relationship, including reflecting on its actions and withdrawing certain contentious statements made by Prime Minister Takaichi concerning Taiwan, which Beijing deems erroneous.

Allegations of Deliberate Disturbance

When pressed specifically on recent comments attributed to Japan’s Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, regarding the radar allegation, Guo reiterated that Japan’s changing narrative indicated that Tokyo “deliberately initiated the disturbance and later resorted to rumour-mongering and sensationalism.”

Though citing a report from the Sankei Shimbun which quoted Minister Koizumi claiming China’s notification did not specify the exact scale or area of the flight training, Guo insisted that Japan’s broader conduct exposed Tokyo as “the planner and instigator of this entire farce.”

Key Points of Contention:

• Prior Notification: Japan initially denied receiving notification of Chinese exercises, then acknowledged receiving it.
• Military Incursions: China claims Japan deployed fighter jets into legally notified exercise areas to conduct reconnaissance.
• Motive: Beijing suggests Japan is attempting to generate international tension and distract from domestic issues.

This diplomatic friction underscores the persistently strained military and political relationship between the two key East Asian powers. Beijing insists that Japan must take tangible steps to de-escalate tensions by demonstrating greater transparency regarding its operations near Chinese zones and refraining from what China considers provocative military and political rhetoric. Continued disagreement over operational transparency and disputed territories ensures that communication channels remain vital, even as mutual mistrust deepens.