China has placed 20 Japanese organisations, including major companies, on an export blacklist over concerns that items supplied by them could be used for both civilian and military purposes, deepening an ongoing dispute between Beijing and Tokyo.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said the listed organisations had contributed to strengthening Japan’s military capabilities, announcing new restrictions on their exports.
The ministry stated that the measures were introduced “for the purpose of safeguarding national security and interests and fulfilling international obligations, including non-proliferation”, it added.
Relations between China and Japan have deteriorated since November after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated that Tokyo could consider a military response if Taiwan faced an attack. Beijing has repeatedly claimed Taiwan as its territory and has warned it could use force if necessary to take control of the self-governed island.
China increased pressure on Japan in February by restricting exports involving dozens of Japanese companies it accused of supporting the expansion of Tokyo’s defence capabilities.
The latest blacklist includes specialised subsidiaries and technology companies involved in providing components and engineering services linked to Japan’s defence industry.
The National Institute for Defense Studies and Mitsubishi Electric Defense and Space Technologies Corporation are among the organisations included on the list, according to the statement.
In addition to the blacklist, China added another 20 Japanese entities to a monitoring list. Exporters dealing with these organisations will be required to provide risk assessments and assurances that dual-use products will not contribute to Japan’s military development before shipments are approved.
The companies placed on the watchlist can request removal by cooperating with “verification” procedures under Chinese law, the statement said.
China remains the world’s largest producer and refiner of rare earth materials, which are essential for the manufacturing of advanced technologies such as electric vehicles, smartphones, missile guidance systems and lasers.
A Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson criticised Japan’s defence direction, saying the country had “strayed further down the wrong path, intensifying its push for a ‘new form of militarism’”.
“China’s move is entirely justified, reasonable, and lawful,” it said, adding that the decision “does not affect normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Japan”.
Since Takaichi became prime minister in October, Japan has accelerated efforts to strengthen its defence policy, moving further away from the pacifist stance adopted after World War II, with support from the United States.
Japan, the United States and other nations have been working to reduce reliance on China for rare earth supplies as Beijing’s control over the sector has increasingly become a source of geopolitical influence.
