Tokyo and Beijing traded barbs Monday as their diplomatic row showed no signs of abating, following Japan¡¯s report that Chinese warplanes had locked their radar systems on Air Self-Defense Forces fighters over the weekend.
Japan¡¯s top government spokesman slapped down Beijing¡¯s allegations that the ASDF aircraft had ¡°maliciously monitored and harassed¡± the Chinese military warplanes, saying that the Japanese fighters had maintained a safe distance while performing their mission.
¡°China¡¯s claim that Self-Defense Forces (SDF) aircraft seriously impeded the safe flight of Chinese aircraft is unfounded,¡± Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a news conference Monday morning.
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