BEIJING: China announced on Tuesday a decision to tighten export controls on dual-use items destined for Japan, citing national security and non-proliferation obligations. Experts see the move as a lawful and necessary response to the increasingly dangerous signals from Japan in the security sphere, aimed at preventing risk spillovers and safeguarding regional peace and stability.
According to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the decision was made in accordance with relevant Chinese laws and regulations, including the Export Control Law of China, and has taken effect upon announcement.
Under the decision, all dual-use items are prohibited from being exported to Japan for military end users, military purposes, and any other end users or uses that contribute in any way to enhancing Japan’s military capabilities, the ministry said.
MOFCOM further stressed that any organization or individual, in any country or region, that violates the above provisions by transferring or providing dual-use items of Chinese origin to organizations or individuals in Japan will be held legally liable in accordance with the law.
Dual-use items are goods, technologies or services that could be used for either civil purposes or military purposes, or to contribute to an increase in military potential, especially in the design, development, production or use of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.
Chinese experts said the latest move reflects a cautious, rules-based approach aligned with international practice, as the controls are confined to military-related uses rather than being a blanket ban. They warned that any further moves from the Japanese side that cross red lines or threaten China’s security interests would carry broader repercussions, including in economic and trade relations.
Tuesday’s announcement came after the Japanese leader recently made erroneous remarks regarding China’s Taiwan region, hinting at the possibility of military intervention in the Taiwan Straits. Such comments interfered in China’s internal affairs, seriously violated the one-China principle and are extremely egregious in nature and impact, a MOFCOM spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday in response to a question on the considerations behind the announcement, previously released by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), on tightening export controls on dual-use items to Japan.
The latest export control measure is implemented in accordance with laws and regulations and targets dangerous signals recently released by Japan in the security domain, whose related moves could have a disruptive impact on regional peace and stability, Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Xiang said that any spillover of such risks could have serious consequences, making it necessary for China to take corresponding measures to strengthen risk prevention, in line with the shared concerns of regional countries and the international community over safeguarding strategic stability and security.
The wrongful remarks by the Japanese leader mirror the country’s increasingly assertive posture in the security domain. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi claimed in her New Year press conference that discussions will be advanced with the aim of revising the three key security documents within the year.
In response to a media question regarding Takaichi’s speech, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday that this reflects Japan’s dangerous trend of accelerating “remilitarization,” which will inevitably undermine regional peace and stability, and the international community must remain highly vigilant. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
