China places 20 Japanese entities on export control list for dual-use items

China added 20 Japanese entities to its export control list for dual-use items on Monday, preventing Chinese firms from selling to them without prior approval, citing Tokyo's ambitions for "remilitarisation."



The action, Beijing's latest in a series of export curbs targeted at Tokyo, was aimed at limiting Japan's "new type of militarism" as well as its nuclear ambitions, the Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement.



Japan's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



Ties between China and Japan have been strained since late last year after sensitive Taiwan-related remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Tokyo's decision to increase defence spending, prompting Beijing to begin imposing export controls on dual-use items in January.



"China's lawful action of listing only targets a small number of Japanese entities, the relevant measures apply only to dual-use items, which does not affect the normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Japan," the ministry said, reassuring that law-abiding Japanese entities operating "in good faith" need not worry.



The 20 entities include Japan's Institute for Defence Studies, as well as subsidiaries of Mitsubishi, Komatsu and Fujitsu, the ministry notice showed.