Washington, Dec. 10 — The United States on Wednesday criticized recent Chinese military actions that involved using radar to illuminate Japanese fighter jets, calling the maneuvers “not conducive to regional peace and stability,” The Japan Times reported. A State Department spokesperson, responding by email, emphasized that the US-Japan alliance remains strong and that Washington’s commitment to Tokyo is unwavering, adding that the two allies are in close contact on the issue.
The statement was the first public response from the Trump administration after Chinese fighters launched from the aircraft carrier Liaoning twice locked radar onto Japan Air Self-Defense Force planes last Saturday — moves Tokyo described as “dangerous.” The episode has heightened tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, which were already strained following November 7 remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. She said Japan’s Self-Defense Forces could be used in certain “worst-case” scenarios, including a Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan, a situation she called existential for Japan.
President Trump has not publicly commented on either the radar incident or Takaichi’s comments, a silence that has frustrated some Japanese officials who had hoped for more visible support from Washington amid the dispute with China. Observers note the administration has generally avoided steps that could alienate Beijing as it pursues a trade deal with President Xi Jinping ahead of a planned state visit to China in April.
Japan’s top government spokesman welcomed the State Department’s remarks as evidence of alliance strength. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said it remains “extremely important” for Japan to obtain understanding from other countries regarding its position in the dispute with China.
