Beijing curbs exports of big island-building diggers
Sales of dredgers to overseas customers banned on national security concerns
Beijing has restricted the export of big dredgers which it has used to build artificial islands in the South China Sea, citing national security concerns.
In a notice dated on Thursday, the Ministry of Commerce said that from June 1 all export deals for dredgers that might affect national security would require State Council approval.
The notice listed five types of dredgers that could dig more than 15 metres deep, had a large carrying capacity and could dredge at high speed.
China has reclaimed more than 1,295 hectares of land in the southeastern South China Sea, according to a Pentagon report released in May last year.
Beijing has installed weapons on seven artificial islands, although it has repeatedly promised not to militarise the area.