China bans exports of dual-use items to 20 Japanese defence entities
Beijing (ANTARA) – China on Tuesday imposed export restrictions on dual-use items to 20 defence-related entities in Japan, prompting protests from Tokyo and escalating a diplomatic dispute over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks about a potential emergency in Taiwan.
Subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. are among the newly added entities, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce, which claims they are “involved in enhancing Japan’s military capabilities.”
The ministry said that any ongoing related activities must be “immediately stopped,” adding that organizations and individuals outside of China are prohibited from exporting dual-use items originating from China to the 20 entities.
The products, which can be used for both civilian and military applications, may include rare earth elements that are essential for the production of high-tech products ranging from electric vehicles to weapons. China dominates the global supply of these minerals.
Separately, the ministry released a list of newly added export control items, including 20 Japanese companies and organizations, such as Subaru Corp., TDK Corp., and Hino Motors Ltd.
The ministry stated that the end-users and end-use destinations of the dual-use items shipped to them cannot be verified.
Beijing will implement stricter screening of dual-use item exports to these entities, it added.
In addition to the companies, Japan’s National Defence Academy and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency are also on the list of export restrictions for dual-use items, while the list of monitored items includes the Tokyo Institute of Science.
The latest measures follow the Chinese government’s move on January 6 to tighten export controls on dual-use items to Japan. At that time, Beijing did not disclose the specific entities whose shipments would be controlled.
The ministry explained that the measures introduced on Tuesday aim to curb Japan’s “remilitarization” and nuclear ambitions, and defended the measures as “entirely justified, reasonable, and legitimate.”
It also stated that only a small number of Japanese entities are targeted by the new measures, and that “normal economic and trade exchanges” between the two Asian countries are not expected to be affected in the future.
“Japanese entities that act in good faith and comply with the law have absolutely nothing to worry about,” the ministry said.
The diplomatic dispute stems from Takaichi’s remarks in parliament in November, which suggested that an attack on Taiwan, an island claimed by China, could trigger a response from Japan’s defence forces.
Beijing has increased economic pressure on Tokyo and expressed concern over the policies of Takaichi, a hardline security figure, which could enhance Japan’s defence capabilities and accelerate discussions about amending Japan’s post-war pacifist constitution.
Source: Kyodo