Japan has strongly rejected China’s accusation that its Air Self-Defense Force jets “harassed” Chinese aircraft near Okinawa. On December 8, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara dismissed Beijing’s claims as “unfounded,” following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statement a day earlier that Chinese fighter jets had directed weapons-control radar at Japanese aircraft. China denies the radar-lock allegation, but Tokyo has lodged a formal protest and demanded steps to prevent further incidents as tensions rise in the region.