Japan urges restraint by China after radar lock-on - Indian Express
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged China on
Wednesday not to stoke tension over disputed
East China Sea isles, a day after Japan said a Chinese
vessel directed radar normally used to aim
weapons at a target at a Japanese navy ship. A Chinese government spokeswoman said she
was not aware of the details of the incident, and
focused instead on Chinas stance that Japan
should stop sending its ships into what China
considers its territorial waters around the islands. The incident is a dangerous conduct that could
have led to an unforeseeable situation. It is
extremely regrettable that China carried out such a
one-sided, provocative act when signs are
emerging for dialogue, Abe told parliament. I ask
the Chinese side to return to the spirit of mutually beneficial, strategic relations and prevent the
recurrence of an incident like this. I strongly ask
them for restraints so that the situation will not
escalate further, Abe said. Fire control radar is used to pinpoint the location of
a target for missiles or shells. Directing the radar at
a target can be considered a step away from actual
firing. The radar incident, which Japan said took place in
the East China Sea on January 30, came days after
Chinese Communist Party chief Xi Jinping told Abes
envoy that he was committed to developing
bilateral ties. I have seen the reports but I dont
understand the details of the situation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. In recent days, Japan has on many occasions
deployed aircraft and ships and illegally entered
Chinese waters around the Diaoyu Islands. China
has made representations on many occasions and
requested Japan stop its illegal activities, she said Relations between Asias two biggest economies
deteriorated sharply when the Japanese
government bought the islets, called the Senkaku
in Japan and the Diaoyu in China, from a private
Japanese owner, in September, igniting protests
across China.