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Frank Chen

The Ministry of Commerce said on Monday that to deter Japan’s “remilitarisation” and its attempts to “acquire nuclear weapons”, it has added 20 Japanese entities “involved in enhancing Japan’s military capabilities” to an export control list.
Twenty Japanese entities have also been added to a separate watch list.
The moves were made to safeguard China’s national security and interests and to fulfil international obligations such as non-proliferation, the ministry added.
A ministry spokesperson said that China’s actions were in accordance with the law, were only aimed at a “small number” of Japanese entities, and only targeted dual-use items.
“They will not affect normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Japan, and honest and law-abiding Japanese entities have absolutely nothing to worry about,” the spokesperson said.
The entities added to the export control list include Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies and military research institutes for ground, naval and air weapons systems.
They also include several entities under the umbrella of Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with businesses that span defence and space systems, specialised software development, precision instrument manufacturing, engineering services, logistics, maritime technology and technical support for special vehicles.
NIPPI Corporation, a Kawasaki Heavy Industries subsidiary that is Japan’s premier specialist aerospace company, is also on the list.
In February, 20 Japanese entities, including some of Japan’s largest companies, were put on China’s export control list and 20 more on a watch list to step up scrutiny of trade in selected goods and apply more economic pressure on Tokyo. Those moves followed an announcement by Beijing in January that it was strengthening export controls for dual-use items.
Chinese exporters have been banned from shipping dual-use goods – items with military and civilian applications – to the firms and institutions on the export control list.
“Unfortunately, for some time now, Japan has not repented but has instead gone further down the wrong path, accelerating its ‘new type’ of militarism, speeding up remilitarisation and deploying offensive weapons and launching offensive missiles overseas,” the spokesperson said.
In early May, China condemned what it called Japan’s first “offensive missile” test overseas in eight decades, saying Tokyo’s “neo-militarism” and intensified arms race had gained momentum and threatened regional stability.
During the “Balikatan 2026” joint drill led by the United States and the Philippines, Japanese forces fired a Type 88 surface-to-ship missile in the Philippines.
China said it was the first time Japan had launched an “offensive” weapon abroad since World War II. The missile can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes but deploying it outside Japanese territory could be seen as an offensive posture.
It’s more than routine control; it’s an institutionalised, precision-targeted economic security countermeasure
Xu Weijun, South China University of Technology,
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said it marked a significant departure from Japan’s post-war pacifist stance.
Xu Weijun, a public policy analyst at South China University of Technology, said the latest additions to the export control list marked a major escalation.
“It’s more than routine control; it’s an institutionalised, precision-targeted economic security countermeasure designed to restrict the Japanese military industrial chain’s access to Chinese dual-use items … it’s a harsh response to Japan’s militarism,” he said.
But Xu said Beijing had no appetite for a full-scale economic war since only a small number of Japanese entities were targeted.
“China is drawing a distinction between military entities and honest, law-abiding Japanese enterprises,” he said. “It will not disrupt normal relations between the two largest economies in Asia.”
Xu said there would be an impact on rare earth supplies.
“It depends on whether rare earth items are deemed dual-use and the end-user is on the list or not,” he said. “Not all Japanese importers will automatically lose legitimate access simply because of their nationality.
“But Chinese exporters may exercise greater caution for compliance and suspend or delay deals. Japanese importers not targeted may be required to furnish more information on final use and resale channels.”


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China adds 20 Japanese entities to export control list over remilitarisation concerns

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Ministry of Commerce cites national security concerns as reason for move

Ministry of Commerce cites national security concerns as reason for move