Japan PM wants China to apologise for "provocative" radar lock

Tokyo, Feb 8 (AFP) Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today demanded Beijing apologise and admit that a Chinese frigate had indeed put a Japanese destroyer on radar lock in international waters, a report said. His demand came after Beijing flatly denied Tokyo's accusation, in the latest flare-up of a row between China and Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea. "We wish China to acknowledge it (the radar lock), apologise for it and make efforts to prevent it from recurring," Abe told the BS Fuji TV station, Jiji Press news agency reported. "We have confirmed visually and by photographs and other means such details as whether the radar was directed this way," the premier was quoted as saying. Abe had yesterday called the radar incident "extremely regrettable", "dangerous" and "provocative" but also said that dialogue must remain an option. Tokyo summoned China's envoy earlier today for the third time this year after Beijing's flat denial. Tokyo says the radar lock, a procedure known as "painting" that is necessary to fire modern weapons systems, occurred last month. Beijing for its part has accused Tokyo of hyping the "China threat" in a bid to manipulate world public opinion against its giant neighbour. The radar incident marked the first time the two nations' navies have locked horns in the spat over the Tokyo-controlled Senkakus, which China claims for itself, calling it the Diaoyus. Tokyo also charges a Chinese frigate 'painted' one of its helicopters in the middle of last month. On January 19 and January 30, China's defence ministry said in a statement, the Chinese ship-board radar maintained normal operations and "fire-control radar was not used". "The Japanese side's remarks were against the facts," it said. "Japan unilaterally made public untrue information to the media and senior Japanese government officials made irresponsible remarks that hyped up the so-called 'China threat'," it added. In reply, Kawai told the ambassador Japan expected Beijing to "sincerely fulfil its responsibility for an explanation" and take measures to prevent similar incidents, a statement said. (AFP) NKP KKM KKM 02082150 NNNN