Japan and China: Tensions Mounting
On Tuesday, Japan's Defense Ministry reported that a Chinese frigate "illuminated" a Japanese destroyer with its fire-control radar near the embattled Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. Lighting up an adversary ship or aircraft designates it as a target for missiles or guns, and thus constitutes a prelude to firing on that adversary. The latest incident came after Tokyo publicly contemplated empowering Air Self-Defense Force pilots to fire warning shots in the vicinity of Chinese aircraft overflying the islets or adjoining waters. Which came on the heels of repeated encounters between the Japan Coast Guard and ships from China's maritime enforcement services. Tokyo also disclosed that a Chinese frigate illuminated one of its helicopters last month.Chilling stuff.
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