China adds Japanese entities to export control list, turning up heat on Tokyo

South China Morning Post · Feb 24, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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China has added 20 Japanese entities to its export control list – including several subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries – and 20 more to a watch list for the export of dual-use goods, Beijing’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Tuesday.Effective immediately, Chinese exporters are banned from shipping goods with both military and civilian applications to the firms and institutions on the export control list, while all foreign exporters are also prohibited from shipping the same products to those on the list if the items are made in China.The 20 entities, which also include subsidiaries of Kawasaki Heavy Industries and IHI, as well as the National Defense Academy of Japan, are deeply involved in the research, development and production of a wide range of military equipment – from ships and aircraft to radar and missiles. They play major roles in Japan’s defence industry.At the same time, another 20 entities, including carmaker Subaru – whose aerospace division is contracted for defence production – Sumitomo Heavy Industries and the Institute of Science Tokyo, were added to a watch list subjecting them to stricter scrutiny in the trade of dual-use items.Exports to these entities that are determined to “contribute to enhancing Japan’s military capabilities” will not be approved, the commerce ministry said.The ministry said in a statement that the “completely just, reasonable and lawful” measures are intended to stop Japan’s “remilitarization” and thwart Tokyo’s attempts to build nuclear weapons.