Why China implement focused export controls on Japan

A view of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries brand at its headquarters workplace in Tokyo, Japan, February 24, 2026. /VCG

Editor’s word: Xue Tianhang is an affiliate researcher on the Institute for National Strategy and Regional Development, Zhejiang University. The article displays the writer’s opinions and never essentially the views of CGTN.

China’s Ministry of Commerce issued an announcement on Tuesday stating that, in accordance with the Export Control Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Export Control of DualUse Items, and with a purpose to safeguard nationwide safety and pursuits and fulfill worldwide obligations comparable to non-proliferation, China has determined to incorporate 20 entities, together with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., which have been concerned in enhancing Japan’s navy capabilities, on the export management checklist. At the identical time, one other 20 Japanese entities, together with Subaru Corporation, whose finish customers and finish makes use of of dual-use objects can’t be verified, have been positioned on a watch checklist. Specifically, the Japanese entities included within the export management checklist are primarily these concerned in enhancing Japan’s navy capabilities.

China’s export management measures are totally grounded in legal guidelines and laws. The objective is to exactly lower off provide chains that might contribute to the revival of Japanese militarism and to stop Japan from trying to remilitarize itself and purchase nuclear weapons. These measures are fully justified, cheap, and lawful. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce emphasised that the itemizing targets solely a small variety of Japanese entities in accordance with the legislation, and the related measures apply solely to dual-use objects and won’t have an effect on regular financial and commerce exchanges between China and Japan. Law-abiding and compliant Japanese entities don’t have any purpose for concern.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech on the House of Representatives plenary session in Tokyo, Japan, October 24, 2025. /VCG

During World War II, Japanese militarism flagrantly launched wars of aggression in opposition to China and different Asian international locations, bringing profound disasters to China, the Asia-Pacific area, and the world.

Following Japan’s defeat, the Potsdam Proclamation mandated the dissolution of Japan’s navy forces, the eradication of militarist parts, and a strict prohibition on retaining any business able to rearmament. Japan’s “Peace Constitution” additionally varieties the authorized foundation for the precept of an “exclusively defense-oriented policy”. 

However, since Sanae Takaichi assumed workplace as Japan’s prime minister, the Japanese authorities has demonstrated unprecedented aggressiveness in strengthening and increasing its navy. Japan’s protection price range reached 9.04 trillion yen ($58 billion) in 2026, setting a document excessive and attaining the goal of elevating protection spending to 2 % of GDP two years forward of its unique schedule. Of specific concern are Japan’s plans to take away the rule limiting the scope of protection tools export to 5 classes, makes an attempt to revise the “Three Non-Nuclear Principles,” and exploration of the potential of “independent nuclear armament”. Even worse, Takaichi has additionally publicly referred to as for amending Article 9 of the “Peace Constitution” in an try to essentially overturn Japan’s pacifist framework, restore its proper to wage struggle, and understand the so-called “national normalization”. These actions severely violate worldwide legislation, pose a grave menace to the post-war worldwide order, and ship alarming indicators of a potential resurgence of militarism, triggering robust protests from the worldwide neighborhood.

What’s extra, Takaichi’s actions have additionally sparked home opposition in Japan. In an editorial, Tokyo Shimbun warned that the Japanese authorities’s push to broaden arms exports would solely gasoline worldwide conflicts, and that an extreme tilt towards militarization in Japan’s safety coverage may additional worsen the regional safety atmosphere. Xinhua News Agency cited Professor Yasukatsu Matsushima of Ryukoku University as saying that the enlargement of right-wing forces and accelerated navy deployment in Japan displays a continuation of its historic expansionist logic below the pretext of a “national survival crisis,” concealing actual dangers of militarist resurgence. Meanwhile, Shigeaki Koga, a former official at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, has referred to as on Japan to shift from the “Takaichi’s militaristic path” to a “peace-oriented national path”. As a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said, China urges Japan to earnestly replicate on its actions, appropriate its course, and keep away from going additional down the unsuitable path.

Source: CGTN