China has introduced export controls on 40 Japanese organisations and companies, as a dispute between Beijing and Tokyo continues.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said Tokyo’s pursuit of “new militarism” was behind the latest measures.
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The ministry placed 20 organisations on a blacklist that prevents them from receiving dual-use items with possible military applications, referring to national security and non-proliferation concerns.
Those named on the blacklist are the National Institute for Defence Studies, Naval Systems Research Center and Ground Systems Research Center, as well as Mitsubishi Precision, MHI Logitech and Kawajyu Gifu Manufacturing.
Another 20 organisations were placed on a watch list.
Under that arrangement, exporters must provide a risk assessment and written assurance that their exports are not supporting Japan’s military capabilities.
Entities on that list include Mitsui E&S, Terra Drone and Hitachi Advanced Systems.
A spokesperson for the Commerce Ministry told Al Jazeera that the steps were “entirely legitimate, reasonable and lawful” and said they would not affect “normal China-Japan economic and trade exchanges”.
Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Minoru Kihara, called on Beijing to withdraw the measures and said they were “unacceptable”.
Relations between China and Japan have been affected by historical and territorial disputes.
The latest deterioration followed comments made late last year by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who said Tokyo could intervene militarily if China sought to take control of Taiwan.
The comments referred to Japan using its right of collective self-defence under its antimilitaristic constitution in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
Beijing was angered by the remarks and regards Taiwan as part of its territory requiring “reunification” with mainland China.
Takaichi took office in October after winning the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party.
According to the report, since then, she has made national defence a priority, increased military spending to 2% of Japan’s gross domestic product and sought changes to the pacifist clause of Japan’s war-renouncing constitution.
