China has ramped up its retaliation against Japan’s accelerating military build-up under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

On Tuesday, February 24, China’s Ministry of Commerce banned the export of dual-use items — goods with both civilian and military applications — to 20 Japanese entities and placed another 20 on a watch list. The measures took immediate effect.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, quoted by Global Times state mouthpiece, said the measures were intended “to stop Japan’s attempts to remilitarize itself and possess nuclear weapons.”

Last November, Takaichi said that Chinese military action against Taiwan would constitute an “existential threat” to Japan. China evidently views Japan’s military build-up in the same light.

The Japanese government strongly protested the new sanctions and demanded their withdrawal. It is difficult to see how Japan could compel China to reverse course, however, and equally difficult to imagine Takaichi retreating from her strongly pro-Taiwan, anti-China position.

A number of Japanese officials and commentators had believed that Takaichi’s commanding victory in the February 8 election might strengthen her hand in dealings with China. However, that does not yet appear to be the case.

Rather than reconsidering its campaign against Takaichi, the Chinese government is tightening the screws. In January, China restricted exports to Japan of rare earth metals, permanent magnets and other materials used in arms production.

Beyond that, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan has been cut roughly in half, cultural events have been canceled and the last two pandas in Japan, a gift as part of Beijing’s “panda diplomacy”, have been returned to China with no replacements planned.

Now, China has imposed a complete ban on exports of dual-use products to 18 Japanese corporations, as well as the National Defense Academy of Japan and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), IHI — formerly Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries — and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) are Japan’s top defense contractors.

KAWAJU refers to Kawasaki Heavy. Fujitsu and NEC are the nation’s leading telecommunications and computing companies. Japan Marine United (JMU) is the nation’s second-largest shipbuilder.

Here is the complete list:

1. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
2. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines, Ltd.
3. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Equipment Co., Ltd.
4. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger, Ltd.
5. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Maritime Systems, Ltd.
6. Kawasaki Heavy Industries Aerospace Systems Company
7. KAWAJU Gifu Engineering Co., Ltd.
8. Fujitsu Defense & National Security, Ltd.
9. IHI Power Systems Co., Ltd.
10. IHI Master Metal Co., Ltd.
11. IHI Jet Service Co., Ltd.
12. IHI Aerospace Co., Ltd.
13. IHI Aero Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
14. IHI Aerospace Engineering Co., Ltd.
15. NEC Network and Sensor Systems, Ltd.
16. NEC Aerospace Systems, Ltd.
17. Japan Marine United Corporation
18. JMU Defense Systems Co., Ltd.
19. National Defense Academy of Japan
20. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Another 20 Japanese entities were placed on the watch list “after authorities said they were unable to verify the ultimate end users and end uses of exported dual-use items,” according to Global Times.

They include automaker and aerospace company Subaru, petroleum company Eneos, electronic parts maker TDK, assorted electronic equipment makers and trading companies and their affiliates, Mitsubishi Materials and the Institute of Science Tokyo.

Here is the complete list:

1. SUBARU Corporation
2. FUJI Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd.
3. ENEOS Corporation
4. Yusoki Co., Ltd.
5. ITOCHU Aviation Co., Ltd.
6. Leda Group Holdings Co., Ltd.
7. Institute of Science Tokyo
8. Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
9. ASPP Co., Ltd.
10. Yashima Denki Co., Ltd.
11. Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
12. TDK Corporation
13. Mitsui Bussan Aerospace Co., Ltd.
14. Hino Motors, Ltd.
15. Tokin Corporation
16. Nissin Electric Co., Ltd.
17. Sun Tectro Co., Ltd.
18. Nitto Denko Corporation
19. NOF Corporation
20. Nacalai Tesque, Inc.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that its “lawful listing actions target only a small number of Japanese entities” and that “relevant measures target dual-use items and do not impact normal economic [exchanges] and trade between China and Japan,” adding that “honest and law-abiding Japanese entities have nothing to worry about.”

The two lists are, in fact, fairly extensive, covering Japan’s ground, maritime, air and space forces.

Takaichi’s deputy chief Cabinet secretary, Kei Sato, told reporters that the Chinese sanctions were “absolutely intolerable and extremely regrettable,” adding that “the Japanese government will assess the possible impact and consider necessary responses.”

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