Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera disclosed on Tuesday that Chinese warships in January had locked their fire-control radar on a destroyer of the Maritime Self-Defense Force and an MSDF helicopter in two separate incidents in the East China Sea.
On Thursday, Mr. Onodera told the Diet that the Chinese action could constitute "a threat of force," which the United Nations Charter calls on U.N. member nations to refrain from in their international relations.
It is deplorable that the Chinese warships took these highly provocative and dangerous actions. Beijing should realize that such conduct could lead to an armed clash and should order the Chinese military to exercise restraint.