A UH-1J helicopter of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Forces (JGSDF) seen in training grounds in the East Fuji Maneuver Area in Gotemba on May 22, 2021. Photo: VCG

The Japanese Defense Ministry claimed on Thursday that helicopters of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) were targeted by lasers in Shizuoka Prefecture on Tuesday and Wednesday. While an expert said the incident is highly likely a local public order incident, some Japanese netizens speculated Chinese involvement. The expert said such speculation is completely groundless, and that it reflected the deteriorating bilateral ties caused by the Sanae Takaichi administration’s series of negative moves toward China.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, incidents of laser illuminations targeting JGSDF helicopters occurred consecutively in the airspace over Shizuoka Prefecture, the Japanese Defense Ministry claimed in a statement posted on X on Thursday evening.

The Japanese Defense Ministry statement claimed that this incident is an extremely dangerous act that threatens not only the safety of aircraft flight but also the safety of the crew members during training, and it is by no means permissible, noting that the police are currently conducting an investigation.

According to a Thursday report by Asahi Shimbun, a UH-1 utility helicopter was targeted by a green laser beam from the ground intermittently for about one minute on Wednesday, while on Tuesday, it was a large transport helicopter that was illuminated, also by a green laser beam.

Citing the JGSDF, Jiji Press reported that it was unable to confirm any link between the two incidents, including whether the same laser device was used, and added that the JGSDF has reported the case to the Shizuoka Prefectural police and other relevant authorities.

While the investigations are underway and the cause of the incident yet to be confirmed, some Japanese netizens quickly speculated that China has a role to play, even though there is not any evidence.

“I am relieved that both the helicopters and their crews emerged unscathed, yet I truly suspect that this act was most likely perpetrated by individuals with ties to China, either Chinese citizens or those who sympathize with the words and deeds of the Chinese government. I used to think this was the doing of some far-left, anti-Self-Defense Forces zealots, but given the current abnormal state of Japan-China relations, I cannot help but come to this conclusion,” reads a comment written in Japanese under the Japanese Defense Ministry’s X post.

Another Japanese comment claimed, “Didn’t we have just received radar illumination by a certain major country?” attempting to relate the latest laser illumination incident to the “radar illumination” incident that the Japanese side has recently hyped over Chinese aircraft carrier’s normal and legitimate training over the Western Pacific.

Japan’s laser incident is very likely a matter of local public order incident that has nothing to do with China, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Friday. He noted that the green laser beam is likely shot from civilian-level laser pointer, and similar incidents have happened before, not just in Japan but also in some other countries.

The Japanese netizens’ speculation of Chinese involvement is completely groundless, but it reflects that some Japanese people are affected by the recent negative hypes and moves by the Takaichi administration, including her erroneous remarks on the Taiwan question and the recent hypes over the “radar illumination” incident. Takaichi’s hype of “China threat” narrative is making Japanese people oversensitive and pushing things to China. Such a cunning move to stir up domestic populist sentiments to jointly oppose China is highly dangerous, Song said.