0
A delivery rider passes in front of the Embassy of Japan in Beijing, China, on November 24 last year. / Courtesy of AP and Yonhap News Agency

The Chinese government implemented a measure on the 29th regulating the export of dual-use (military and civilian combined use) items targeting 40 Japanese organizations and companies. The reason is that they were involved in Japan's military expansion or have operated in a way that endangers verifying end users and purposes.

Through a notice on its homepage on this day, the Ministry of Commerce announced, "According to the relevant clauses of China's Export Control Law and the Export Control Regulations on Dual-Use Items, to protect national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as nonproliferation, we decided to add 20 Japanese organizations—including the National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS) involved in Japan's military expansion—to the export control list."

Simultaneously, it announced, "We decided to include 20 Japanese companies—including Mitsui E&S Co., Ltd., whose end users and end purposes of dual-use goods cannot be verified—on the watch list," and opened the names of these total 40 places.

According to this, Chinese exporters are banned from exporting dual-use items to the 20 entities under control, and foreign organizations and individuals became unable to provide dual-use items dispatched from China to the corresponding organizations.

Also, regarding dual-use items exported by entities included on the watch list, they review the end users and purposes more strictly. If Japan's military personnel are connected or a purpose of enhancing Japan's military power is confirmed, the export is not approved.

This measure is implemented simultaneously with the announcement, and transactions currently in progress must be suspended immediately.

On the export control list, there are the Ground Equipment Research Institute, the Naval Ship Equipment Research Institute, the Air Equipment Research Institute, Nikko Toki, Nikko YPK Trading, Mitsubishi Electric Defense & Space Systems, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Logistics, while on the watch list, Mitsui & Co. Aerospace Maintenance Center, Fujitsu Network Solutions, and Komatsu NTC were included.

A Ministry of Commerce spokesperson stated in a question-and-answer session with reporters, "This action of China is entirely justified, reasonable, and lawful, aiming to firmly deter Japan's new militarism trends," adding, "We hope Japan learns through mistakes and corrects them, genuinely reflecting and returning to the right path."

Analysis comes out that although China claims it implements such measures under the pretext of fulfilling national security and nonproliferation obligations, its intention is actually embedded in strengthening checks against Japan's possibility of involvement in the Taiwan issue.

The Ministry of Commerce also announced 20 places each for control and watch lists of Japanese organizations and companies, which are targets of dual-use item exports, on February 24th.

                                                                                                          Kim Hyun-min