The United States has for the first time criticized the Chinese military¡¯s use of radar on Japanese fighter jets last week, as Tokyo refuted Beijing¡¯s claims it had given sufficient advance notice of military drills near Japan.

¡°China¡¯s actions are not conducive to regional peace and stability,¡± a State Department spokesperson told The Japan Times via email on Wednesday. ¡°The U.S.-Japan Alliance is stronger and more united than ever. Our commitment to our ally Japan is unwavering, and we are in close contact on this and other issues.¡±

The criticism was the first comment by U.S. President Donald Trump¡¯s administration following Saturday¡¯s incident that saw Chinese fighters dispatched from the Liaoning aircraft carrier twice illuminate Air Self-Defense Force jets with radar, maneuvers that Tokyo has lambasted as ¡°dangerous.¡±