Japan Protests China’s Ban on Exports of Dual-Use Goods

Tokyo, Feb. 24 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Tuesday lodged a strong protest against China’s ban on exports of dual-use products to Japan, urging Beijing to withdraw the measure. Earlier on Tuesday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that 20 Japanese companies and organizations are subject to the ban on exports of goods that can be used for civilian and military purposes, including rare earths. The latest move is believed to be part of Beijing’s economic pressure following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments last year on a possible Taiwan contingency. China’s measure is “absolutely unacceptable and extremely regrettable,” Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato said at a press conference. Saying that there are “unclear points” in the Chinese government’s announcement, Sato added, “We’ll closely examine the measure itself and the subsequent impact, and take necessary action.” Masaaki Kanai, director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, lodged a protest at a meeting held on Tuesday with Shi Yong, deputy chief of mission at the Chinese Embassy in Japan. Ever since Takaichi’s Taiwan contingency remarks last November, Beijing has increased pressure on Japan. As the Chinese government also announced a ban on exports of dual-use goods to Japan in January, a high-ranking Japanese government official said that Beijing “has mounted further pressure” on Tokyo. The official voiced wariness, saying that China has moved on to “the next level” in terms of its actions against Japan. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]