Chinese military intrusion could be the first step towards war

China is ready. They think they can make their move any day now.

And this Chinese military intrusion could be the first step towards war.

Beijing’s Reckless Radar Aggression: Chinese Jets Target Japanese Aircraft in Dangerous Provocation

In a brazen display of military bullying, China’s J-15 fighter jets—launched from the outdated Liaoning carrier—locked fire-control radar onto Japanese F-15s over international waters near Okinawa on December 6, an act Tokyo condemned as “dangerous” and “extremely regrettable.” This aggressive maneuver, the first publicly disclosed radar lock by Chinese warplanes against Japanese forces, underscores Beijing’s pattern of coercive tactics aimed at intimidating neighbors and asserting unlawful dominance in the region.

Japan’s Defense Ministry reported the jets illuminated the F-15s twice—once for three minutes in the late afternoon and again for 30 minutes that evening—while the Self-Defense Forces maintained a safe distance during routine monitoring of the Chinese carrier group.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara flatly rejected Beijing’s baseless counterclaim that Japanese aircraft “harassed” their operations, calling it “untrue” and emphasizing no provocation occurred. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi vowed a “resolute” response, summoning China’s ambassador and demanding preventive measures, as Tokyo bolsters surveillance to counter the growing Chinese threat.

Wang Yi’s Hypocritical Tirade: Victim-Blaming a “Defeated Nation” for China’s Own Belligerence

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi wasted no time in flipping the script, hypocritically accusing Japan of “threatening China militarily” during a meeting with his German counterpart in Beijing—a laughable inversion from the aggressive actor in this drama. Wang smeared Prime Minister Takaichi for “trying to exploit the Taiwan question — the very territory Japan colonized for half a century, committing countless crimes against the Chinese people — to provoke trouble and threaten China militarily. This is completely unacceptable,” he ranted, per Xinhua, while lecturing Japan as a World War II “defeated nation” to show “greater caution.”

This inflammatory bluster ignores the real provocation: China’s relentless military drills near Okinawa, part of a broader strategy to normalize aggression and pressure democratic allies. It follows Takaichi’s truthful November warning that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would pose a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, potentially invoking 2015 security laws—remarks Beijing branded “egregious” and met with threats of “serious consequences.”

State media like People’s Daily dismissed the radar incident as a Japanese “false accusation” to “hype up” tensions, a tired tactic to deflect from the PLA’s unprofessional conduct.

Expert Alarm: China’s “Belligerent Acts” Edge the Region Toward War

China’s refusal to de-escalate—even ignoring Japan’s crisis hotline during the incident—exposes the fragility of communication channels and Beijing’s disdain for international norms. As one X post noted, “Japan SAYS CHINA IGNORED HOTLINE DURING FIGHTER JET RADAR LOCK,” highlighting the peril of such recklessness.

China watcher Gordon Chang cut through the noise: “China, with Saturday’s radar-lock incidents against Japan and other belligerent acts recently, looks like it wants to start a war. In any event, these incidents could easily spiral into war, especially because China cannot act constructively or deescalate.”

He added that Beijing, frustrated by Takaichi’s resolve, will “ramp up the crisis,” proving her warnings spot-on: “China is now proving Takaichi right: Beijing is creating a ‘survival-threatening situation’ for Japan.”

This episode, echoed across X with posts decrying China’s “dangerous and unprofessional” moves, fits a sinister pattern—from South China Sea flare firings to carrier provocations—that demands a united front against Chinese expansionism.

Japan and allies like Australia, who urged calm while expressing “concern,” must accelerate defenses to deter the dragon’s fiery breath.