Following its January 6 announcement of tightened export controls on dual-use items to Japan, China's Ministry of Commerce defended the measures as legitimate, aiming to counter Tokyo's remilitarization and nuclear ambitions while sparing civilian trade.
In a January 8 press conference, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong responded to Japan's protests, stating the controls target military end-uses and do not affect civilian applications or stable supply chains. The ban was prompted by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's hints at military intervention in the Taiwan Strait and her administration's push to revise key security documents amid advocacy for nuclear armament by her associates—moves China views as challenging post-war order and regional stability.
Senior researcher Zhou Mi at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation called the steps 'necessary, factual, and lawful,' urging Japan to correct its stance on Taiwan, a core Chinese interest. Zhou emphasized China's preference for stable ties.
Sources indicate China may further scrutinize export permits for rare earth-related items to Japan. As a responsible power, China upholds nonproliferation duties and bans such exports to military users. Xu Hongcai, deputy director at the China Association of Policy Science, warned that Japan's trajectory risks vital economic links, with China as Japan's top trading partner for autos, machinery, and chemicals.