China bans export of dual-use items to Japan amid tensions over Taiwan

Japan calls for the ban’s withdrawal, calling the measures ‘absolutely unacceptable’ and ‘deeply regrettable’.

China has unveiled caller export controls connected Japan amid elevated tensions implicit Taiwan, prompting a rebuke by Tokyo.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said it had banned alleged dual-use items, with subject applications, successful airy of Japan’s “erroneous” and “egregious” statements astir the self-governing island, which Beijing considers its territory.

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In a connection connected Tuesday, the Commerce Ministry said the prohibition was intended to “safeguard nationalist security” and would use to each items that could “enhance Japan’s subject capabilities”.

The announcement did not specify which goods would beryllium banned.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said successful a connection that it had issued a protestation with China and demanded the withdrawal of the measures.

Masaaki Kanai, the secretary-general of Japan’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, told the Chinese Embassy’s lawman main of mission, Shi Yong, that the prohibition was “absolutely unacceptable”, profoundly regrettable”, and did not comply with planetary practice, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

China and Japan person agelong been astatine likelihood implicit humanities and territorial issues, but relations deteriorated sharply aft Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested precocious past twelvemonth that Tokyo could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan.

In remarks to parliament successful November, Takaichi said that a Chinese onslaught connected Taiwan would beryllium a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, gathering the threshold to workout the close of corporate self-defence nether the country’s war-renouncing constitution.

The Japanese leader’s remarks infuriated Beijing, which has agelong pledged to unify Taiwan with the Chinese mainland, utilizing unit if necessary.

In his yearly New Year’s address, Chinese President Xi Jinping called the “reunification” of China and Taiwan “unstoppable”.

Xi made the remarks days aft China’s subject wrapped up live-fire drills that simulated a blockade of the island.

Taiwan’s governing Democratic Progressive Party considers the land a de facto autarkic country, though it has not formally declared independence.

Taiwan elects its leaders and has its ain military, passport and currency, but is not officially recognised by the immense bulk of countries, including Japan.

China insists that countries bash not recognise Taipei if they privation to support diplomatic ties with Beijing.