China has placed 20 Japanese organisations on its export control list for dual-use goods, requiring Chinese companies to obtain government approval before supplying them.


Beijing said the move was linked to what it described as Japan's push toward "remilitarisation," Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.


In a statement, China's Commerce Ministry made it clear that the latest restrictions are intended to curb Japan's "new type of militarism" and its nuclear ambitions.


The measures mark Beijing's latest round of export controls targeting Tokyo.


Japan's Defence Ministry did not immediately comment on the decision.


Relations between China and Japan have remained tense since late last year, following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi concerning Taiwan and Tokyo's decision to boost defence spending. In response, Beijing began introducing export controls on dual-use items in January.


"China's lawful action of listing only targets a small number of Japanese entities, the relevant measures apply only to dual-use items, which does not affect the normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Japan," the ministry stressed, adding that law-abiding Japanese organizations operating "in good faith" should have no cause for concern.


The 20 entities include Japan's Institute for Defence Studies, along with subsidiaries of Mitsubishi, Komatsu and Fujitsu, according to the ministry's notice.


Dual-use items refer to goods, software and technologies that have both civilian applications and potential military or weapons-development uses.


Effective immediately, Chinese exporters are prohibited from supplying dual-use products to the listed organisations. Foreign individuals and organisations are also barred from transferring or providing Chinese-origin dual-use items to those entities.


In addition, the Commerce Ministry placed another 20 Japanese organisations on a watchlist after saying it could not verify the end users or intended purposes of dual-use goods exported to them.


Although trade with the watchlisted entities is not banned, exporters seeking approval must submit a risk assessment report and provide a written pledge that the exported items will not be used in any way that strengthens Japan's military capabilities.


By Bakhtiyar Abbasov