Tokyo: Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have committed to maintaining close communication and coordination between their countries following a recent incident involving China's use of military radar on Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) fighters.

According to Philippines News Agency, the defense chiefs held a phone conversation on Friday, during which they expressed concerns over China's actions, including a recent joint flight of Chinese and Russian bombers near Japan. The talks lasted approximately 40 minutes and marked the first direct communication between the Japanese and US defense leaders since the radar incident. This incident involved a Chinese fighter jet from the aircraft carrier Liaoning directing radar at Japanese ASDF jets over international waters near Okinawa.

Koizumi and Hegseth agreed that China's actions do not contribute to regional peace and stability. They also discussed plans to arrange a face-to-face meeting in the United States at the start of the next year.