On December 6, 2025, Japan’s Defense Ministry reported that Chinese J-15 fighter jets directed fire-control radar at Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-15 jets near Okinawa, leading to formal protests from Tokyo. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi condemned the acts as dangerous, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara dismissed China’s justification of safety measures, highlighting the risks of escalation. Beijing argued that Japanese aircraft disrupted its naval exercises. This incident reflects China’s aggressive posture in the Indo-Pacific, which could impact regional security dynamics and benefits India’s strategic interests, particularly through its partnerships in the QUAD amidst heightened Sino-Japanese tensions near vital maritime routes.