China has expanded export restrictions on Japanese entities, adding 20 companies and organizations to its dual-use export control list as Beijing intensifies measures against firms it says are linked to Japan’s military development.
China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced on Monday that it had placed 20 Japanese entities, including the National Institute for Defense Studies and several Mitsubishi-affiliated defense contractors, on the export control list for dual-use items. The move prohibits exports of goods, technologies and materials with both civilian and military applications to the listed entities.
The ministry also added another 20 Japanese entities, including MITSUI E&S Co., Ltd, to a watch list after determining that the final users and end uses of dual-use items could not be verified. The measures took effect immediately after publication, according to MOFCOM.
Beijing said the restrictions were aimed at curbing what it described as Japan’s “neo-militarist agenda” and were taken to safeguard national security and fulfill international non-proliferation obligations. A MOFCOM spokesperson said the measures were “legitimate, reasonable and lawful” and urged Japan to correct what China called its wrong actions.
The latest action follows a similar decision in February, when China placed 20 Japanese institutions and companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shipbuilding Co, under export controls and another 20 entities, including SUBARU Corporation, on a watch list.
China has increased restrictions against Japan following comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November that Tokyo could hypothetically intervene militarily in a Taiwan crisis. Beijing has strongly opposed Japan’s statements on Taiwan, which it considers a core sovereignty issue.
Under the new rules, exporters seeking to supply dual-use items to entities on the watch list cannot use general licensing procedures or obtain export certificates through registration and information filing. Companies applying for individual licenses must provide risk assessments and written commitments confirming that the items will not be used to strengthen Japan’s military capabilities.
MOFCOM said stricter reviews would apply to exports involving Japanese military users, military purposes or any other end uses that could contribute to Japan’s military development. The ministry added that entities on the watch list could request removal after cooperating with verification procedures.
For the 20 entities placed directly on the export control list, China prohibited exporters from supplying dual-use items. The ministry also barred overseas organizations and individuals from transferring or providing Chinese-origin dual-use goods to those entities and ordered the termination of any related ongoing activities.
A MOFCOM spokesperson said the measures were targeted at a limited number of Japanese entities and applied only to dual-use items, adding that normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Japan would not be affected.
Lü Chao, a research fellow at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the measures were a lawful exercise of China’s export control authority. He said the restrictions were intended to address what China views as security risks linked to Japan’s military policies rather than affect ordinary Japanese companies.
The latest export controls add another point of tension between China and Japan as both countries navigate disputes over security, military development and Taiwan-related issues. Beijing said the restrictions would be implemented without changes despite what it described as Japan seeking external support over the measures.
