After the Chinese government moved to ban exports of dual-use goods to Japan, Japan's Foreign Ministry expressed displeasure. As China follows up with sanctions over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement last year that Japan could intervene in the event of a Taiwan contingency, relations between the two countries appear to be on a worsening track.
According to Japan's Foreign Ministry on the 7th, Director General Masaki Kanai of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau met Deputy Chief of Mission Su Yong at the Chinese Embassy in Japan the previous day and lodged a strong protest. The same day, when China's Ministry of Commerce announced it would ban exports of all dual-use items to Japan, Kanai immediately demanded the measure be withdrawn.
Director General Kanai was quoted as saying, "This measure diverges significantly from international practice, is absolutely unacceptable, and is extremely regrettable," adding, "We demand the immediate withdrawal of the measure."
Earlier, on the 6th, China's Ministry of Commerce announced it had decided to tighten export controls on dual-use items to Japan "to safeguard national security and interests and to fulfill international obligations such as nonproliferation." Although the specific items were not disclosed, rare earths used in the manufacture of military supplies are believed to be included.
As the backdrop to this measure, Prime Minister Takaichi's remark in November last year about "intervention in a Taiwan contingency" was cited. A spokesperson for the ministry said, "A Japanese leader recently publicly made incorrect remarks related to Taiwan, implying the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait," adding, "It constitutes a violent interference in China's internal affairs, and its nature and impact are extremely bad."
Previously, China responded to Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks with economic retaliation such as advisories against travel and studying abroad and the resumption of a ban on imports of Japanese seafood, but the impact was assessed as limited. However, given Japan's overwhelming dependence on China for rare earths, the repercussions of this measure are expected to be significant.
The Mainichi Shimbun said, "Although the specific items and the degree of regulation are unclear, if the export ban expands, it could significantly affect the economic activities of Japanese corporations."
Meanwhile, China is continuing its "boycott" moves against Japan. On this day, the Chinese ambassador to Japan unusually conveyed an intention not to attend the New Year's gathering of bilateral economic groups, including the Japan-China Economic Association, to be held in Tokyo.