fire-control radar was directed
小野寺防衛大臣が昨夜，緊急の記者会見を開き、東シナ海で先月３０日、中国海軍のフリゲート艦が海上自衛隊の護衛艦に射撃管制用のレーダーを照射していたことを明らかにしました。 また、同大臣は「先月１９日午後５時ごろにも、東シナ海で、中国海軍のフリゲート艦から護衛艦『おおなみ』に搭載されているヘリコプターに射撃管制用のレーダーの照射が疑われる事案があった」と述べました。
射撃管制レーダー（fire-control radar/ targeting radar）は，いわゆるロックオンをするための軍事器機で，その後に射撃をともなうのが通例であることから，今回の中国艦艇による照射（be directed at）が大きな問題としてクローズアップされることになりました。威嚇行動は明らかにエスカレートしています。（GP）
Japan protest over China ship's radar action
A Chinese vessel has locked its weapon-targeting radar on a Japanese ship, Tokyo says, amid mounting tensions over a territorial row.
Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said the incident happened on 30 January near islands claimed by both nations in the East China Sea.
He said this prompted Tokyo to lodge a formal protest with Beijing on Tuesday.
The row, over islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, has escalated in recent months.
"On 30 January, something like fire-control radar was directed at a Japan Self-Defence Maritime escort ship in the East China Sea," Mr Onodera told reporters on Tuesday.
The minister added that a Japanese military helicopter was also targeted with a similar radar a few days earlier.
"Directing such radar is very abnormal. We recognise it would create a very dangerous situation if a single misstep occurred," he said.
