BEIJING: China imposed export restrictions on 40 Japanese companies on Tuesday (Feb 24), citing national security concerns, as Beijing escalated a months-long row that has seen Chinese tourism to Japan plummet.
The spat between Asia’s top two economies was sparked by comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November that Japan could intervene militarily in any attack on self-ruled Taiwan.
The measures announced on Tuesday cover exports of “dual-use” items – which can have civilian and military uses – to 20 Japanese entities, including five subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as well as Japan’s space agency.
The commerce ministry added a further 20 Japanese organisations, including automaker Subaru, to a “watch list” requiring stricter reviews of exported items that could be used for military purposes.
“The above measures are aimed at curbing Japan’s ‘remilitarisation’ and nuclear ambitions and are completely legitimate, reasonable and lawful,” a commerce ministry statement said.
“Honest and law-abiding Japanese entities have nothing to worry about,” it added.
Japan said Tuesday that export restrictions imposed by China on 40 Japanese companies were “absolutely unacceptable and deeply regrettable”.
“We have strongly protested these measures and demanded their withdrawal,” government spokesman Kei Sato said.
A Japanese trade ministry official earlier told AFP that Tokyo would “take appropriate measures” after analysing the impact of the new curbs.
Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan, which China views as its territory and has not ruled out taking by force, have enraged Beijing.
The most visible consequence is a sharp drop in Chinese visitors to Japan – 61 per cent in January – after Beijing warned its citizens against going there.
In December, J-15 jets from China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier twice locked radar on Japanese aircraft in international waters near Okinawa, according to Japan.
China has reportedly suspended imports of Japanese seafood. Japan’s last two pandas were also returned to China last month.
Last month, China announced tightened controls on exports to Japan for items with potential military uses.
This fuelled worries that Beijing may choke supplies of vital rare-earth minerals, some of which are included in China’s list of “dual-use” goods.
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