Japan decries Chinese export restrictions that could cripple defenses

MANILA, Philippines — The Japanese government has urged China to withdraw sweeping export restrictions on dual-use items that block goods for Japan’s defense forces.

A statement from China’s Ministry of Commerce, released on Jan. 6, prohibits the export of all dual-use items Japan uses for military purposes.

China did not stipulate covered items, but experts believe the restrictions could affect rare earth minerals.

According to a Reuters report, Beijing’s export control list for dual-use goods and technologies contains more than 1,000 items including medium and heavy rare earth minerals. These critical minerals are used in products such as batteries, wind turbines, computers and defense equipment, including drones and missiles.

The Chinese ban also covers “end-users and end-use producers” – or firms and organizations that export or produce dual-use items from China to construct military products for Japan.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the move “unacceptable and deeply regrettable.”

The restrictions come amid a deteriorating relationship between Tokyo and Beijing after a statement in early November by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about the Asian nation’s potential responses to a possible naval blockade of Taiwan caused an uproar in Beijing.

Chinese officials claimed that Takaichi’s statement violated the One China principle and was an indicator of Japanese interference in China’s domestic affairs.

China temporarily embargoed the exports of rare earth minerals to Japan in 2010, and the United States had been blocked from certain critical minerals in 2024. The export ban, however, was relaxed late last year during trade negotiations with Washington.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters on Jan. 7 that the government is still assessing the potential impact of the restriction on Japanese industries since the situation is “not crystal clear at the moment.”

Leilani Chavez is an Asia correspondent for Defense News. Her reporting expertise is in East Asian politics, development projects, environmental issues and security.

菲律宾马尼拉——日本政府敦促中国取消对两用物项的全面出口限制，这些限制阻碍了日本防卫军所需物资的获取。

中国商务部1月6日发表声明，禁止出口日本用于军事用途的所有两用物项。

中国并未具体规定限制对象，但专家认为这些限制可能会影响稀土矿物。

据路透社报道，北京的两用物项和技术出口管制清单包含1000多项，其中包括中重稀土矿物。这些关键矿物被用于电池、风力涡轮机、计算机和国防装备（包括无人机和导弹）等产品中。

中国的禁令还涵盖“最终用户和最终用户生产商”——即从中国出口或生产两用物项以制造日本军用产品的公司和组织。

日本外务省称此举“令人无法接受，深感遗憾”。

在东京和北京的关系日益恶化之际，日本首相高市早苗于 11 月初发表声明，谈及日本可能对台湾实施海上封锁的回应，此举在北京引起轩然大波。

中国官员声称，高市的声明违反了一个中国原则，是日本干涉中国内政的迹象。

2010年，中国曾暂时禁止向日本出口稀土矿物；2024年，美国也被禁止进口某些关键矿物。然而，在去年年底与华盛顿的贸易谈判中，出口禁令有所放松。

日本内阁官房长官木原稔 1 月 7 日告诉记者，由于目前情况“尚不明朗”，政府仍在评估该限制措施对日本产业的潜在影响。

莱拉尼·查韦斯是《防务新闻》的亚洲记者。她的报道专长是东亚政治、发展项目、环境问题和安全。