Japan Urges China to Revoke Dual-Use Goods Export Ban

Tokyo, Jan. 7 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that it has urged China to withdraw its ban on exports of dual-use goods to Japan. Masaaki Kanai, director-general of the ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, lodged a strong protest over the matter with Shi Yong, deputy chief of mission at the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, on Tuesday after China’s Commerce Ministry announced the immediate ban earlier in the day. Kanai said that the measure is “absolutely unacceptable and deeply regrettable” because it targets only Japan and deviates significantly from international practice. The ban is feared to cover Chinese exports of semiconductors and rare earths that can be used to make military-related devices. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a press conference Wednesday that the scope of the ban remains unclear. “We will carefully examine and analyze the potential impact on various industries and consider a necessary response,” he added. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]