By Micah Jonah
January 7, 2026
China has announced new export controls – targeting Japan amid rising tensions over Taiwan, drawing a sharp protest from Tokyo.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said it has banned the export of so called dual use items with potential military applications to Japan, citing what it described as Japan’s erroneous and egregious statements regarding Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry said measures were introduced to safeguard national security and would apply to all items capable of enhancing Japan’s military capabilities. The notice did not specify which goods would be affected by the ban.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had lodged a formal protest with China, demanded the immediate withdrawal of the measures.
According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Masaaki Kanai, secretary general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, conveyed Tokyo’s position to Shi Yong, the deputy chief of mission at the Chinese Embassy in Japan, describing the ban as absolutely unacceptable, deeply regrettable, inconsistent with international practice.
Relations between China and Japan have long been strained by historical, territorial disputes, but tensions worsened after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested late last year that Japan could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan.
In remarks to parliament in November, Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan would pose a survival threatening situation for Japan, meeting the conditions, exercising the right of collective self defence under Japan’s constitution.
The comments drew strong reactions from Beijing, which has repeatedly stated its intention to reunify Taiwan with mainland China and has not ruled out the use of force.
In his New Year address, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the reunification of China and Taiwan was unstoppable. His remarks came shortly after China’s military concluded live fire drills simulating a blockade of the island.
Taiwan operates as a self governed entity with its own elected leaders, military, passport and currency, but it is not officially recognized by most countries, including Japan. China maintains that countries must not recognise Taipei if they wish to maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing.
