On December 6, 2025, the Liaoning Carrier Strike Group of the Chinese mainland's navy was conducting routine training east of the Miyako Strait. Having twice notified Japan in advance, a Chinese military aircraft ran standard radar scans to keep operations safe. 🚀
But a Japanese F-15 fighter jet slipped into the zone without authorization, closing to just 50 kilometers for a close-range reconnaissance. Almost immediately, Tokyo accused China of "radar illumination," twisting facts in a move critics call sensational.
After China published clear radio recordings proving prior notice, Japan conceded it had received alerts—but then pivoted, claiming the information was "insufficient." 🎭 This "first provoke, then play the victim" routine has raised eyebrows among observers of international affairs.
Inside Japan's Ministry of Defense, some officials urged patience and fact-finding. Yet the defense minister chose an impromptu press conference, sidelining the media and pushing the narrative that "China bullied us" as quickly as possible.
Analysts say this isn't an isolated stunt. It echoes Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent provocations around the Taiwan region—and her follow-up complaints about "China's refusal to engage." 🤔
Japan's so-called victim narrative stretches back decades. From replaying the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as proof of its suffering—while sidestepping questions about its own wartime actions—to amplifying every diplomatic slight, Tokyo seems determined to avoid accountability.
As Charles Sweeney, the U.S. pilot who flew both missions, observed: Japan often highlights its pain, ignores its wartime role, and manufactures new narratives to cast itself solely as a victim. With the latest radar drama, the question remains: is Japan deflecting, or rewriting history?
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Why does Japan, the perpetrator, always play the role of 'victim'?
cgtn.com
