The reported Chinese military "radar lock-on" against Japanese fighter aircraft could be considered a sign of hostile intent, an expert told Newsweek , as it signaled that the targets had been designated a potential threat and that weapons could be used.

Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said on Monday that Chinese fighter pilots activated search radars to ensure flight safety when they encountered the Japanese force, calling the maneuvers "professional, standard and beyond reproach."

However, Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi responded the following day that fighter jet radar could also be used for fire control, providing target data for weapons, and that the party being illuminated cannot always "clearly determine" the radar's purpose.

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