On February 24, 2026, China's Commerce Ministry announced export restrictions targeting 40 Japanese entities. Twenty companies, including subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Fujitsu, were placed on a complete export control list, banning Chinese exports of dual-use goods (items with both civilian and military applications) to these entities. Foreign organizations are also prohibited from providing Chinese-origin dual-use items to these companies. Another 20 entities, including Subaru Corporation, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, and the Institute of Science Tokyo, were added to a watch list requiring Chinese exporters to submit individual license applications, risk assessments, and written pledges that items will not enhance Japan's military capabilities.
China stated these measures aim to curb Japan's "remilitarization" and nuclear ambitions. The restrictions follow months of escalating tensions since November 2025, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated Japan could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan. Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party won a landslide election victory in early February 2026, strengthening her mandate to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP and pursue a conservative security policy shift.
Japan's government formally protested the measures, calling them a deviation from international norms and demanding their withdrawal. The restrictions may include rare earth metals, which China previously used as economic leverage against Japan during a 2010 territorial dispute.