America Steps In: Japan Gains Diplomatic Backing after Radar Incident with China

The United States formally declared diplomatic support for Japan after an incident between China and Japan that posed a risk to Japan’s and China’s territorial radar systems and relationships. In an incident that Japan refers to as an \"unprofessional and dangerous act\" (Japan’s Japan Self-Defense Forces), Chinese vessels locked a unit of fire-control radar on a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force asset (unless China has radar that fires on control-less ships). While China denies that it has radar control and acts of fire against Japanese Self-Defense vessels and Japanese territory, it provides information about radar control. This incident has ensnared the world and altered the security relationship between China and the United States.  

The United States stated its support for the people and the government of Japan to reside without fear, and the Japanese people and government to live therein without the United States' assistance to Japan with its people and support for Japan’s people. The United States has stated that actions that close sea relationships increase the world’s sea relationships. The United States has said that China has Been Involved in radar control incidents in Japan, and Japan's radar control incidents remain united with Japan.

Experts emphasize the impact the U.S. response has on the geopolitical realities of the Indo-Pacific region, marked by enduring border conflicts. The recent radar incidents have been reported with other incidents at sea involving China and other countries, increasing concerns of U.S. allies about the militarized and aggressive posture of China. The U.S. response aims to contain the potential backlash from China, but it will likely be ineffective. U.S. allies are caught between China's aggressive posturing to ignore and the U.S. response, militarized, that explains the increasing incidents at sea as the U.S. attempts to contain China’s aggressiveness and its allies to provide the U.S. with the cover of legitimacy.

Tokyo welcomed the recent U.S. response, arguing that it underscores the U.S. and Japan's roles in defending the region and maintaining peace.

China believes that the U.S. response will not encourage countries to cooperate in developing regional defense strategies, particularly Japan and its allies. China ultimately is not interested in defense agreements in the Indo-Pacific region.

Tokyo and Washington continue to emphasize Freedom of Navigation and the Principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Washington has stated on numerous occasions that it intends to ensure Freedom of Navigation in the region. While defending the Freedom of Navigation in the area, the primary unbalanced defensive will be Japan and ultimately China.