China restricted Tuesday exports to 40 Japanese entities it says are contributing to Japan’s “remilitarization,” in the latest escalation of tensions with Tokyo. Beijing has shown continued displeasure with Tokyo since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November implied Japan could intervene if China used military force against Taiwan, an island democracy China claims as its own.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry put 20 Japanese companies on an export control list and 20 others on a separate watchlist. Companies on the export control list will not be able to import from China dual-use goods, which can be used for civilian and military purposes. They include multiple business subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries involved in shipbuilding and the production of aircraft engines and maritime machinery, as well as some of Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Fujitsu, among others.