China has ramped up tensions, slapping export controls on Japanese entities over alleged militarism. On Monday, Ministry of Commerce announced it blacklisted 20 organizations, blocking them from receiving dual-use items with military applications.
This is part of a growing economic clash between Beijing and Tokyo. Notable names like state-affiliated National Institute for Defense Studies and private firms Mitsubishi Precision and Kawajyu Gifu Manufacturing are on the list. And 20 more, including Mitsui E&S and Hitachi Advanced Systems,landed on a watch list. They'll need to provide risk assessments and assurances their exports won't aid Japan’s military.
A Ministry spokesperson defended the controls as “entirely legitimate,reasonable,and lawful,” saying normal economic exchanges won't be affected. But they slammed Japan for “new militarism” and boosting military capabilities, pointing to recent actions like deploying offensive weapons .
Japan hit back quickly. Minoru Kihara, chief cabinet secretary, called China's move “unacceptable” and demanded a rollback . This echoes February's actions when China blacklisted 20 Japanese entities,adding another 20 to its monitoring list amid Taiwan tensions .
China-Japan relations already strained by history and territorial spats. Tensions spiked after Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi hinted Japan might intervene militarily if China moved on Taiwan. Takaichi's comments implied a Chinese invasion could trigger Japan's right to collective self-defense,angering Beijing,which sees Taiwan as its own.
Since October,Takaichi has focused on defense, pushing military spending to 2% of GDP and seeking changes to Japan's pacifist constitution. These moves alarm Beijing,adding pressure on a fragile relationship…
