China's decision to place 40 Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Subaru, on its export restriction list is fueling growing resentment toward the Sanae Takaichi administration within Japan.
On the 26th (local time), Global Times reported that anxiety is spreading among Japanese companies following China's export control measures. A Chinese expert said, "The serious political and economic concerns conveyed by Japanese media essentially reflect anxiety that the Takaichi government's hardline stance has triggered retaliatory measures from China," predicting the measures would deal a significant blow to Japanese firms.
China's Ministry of Commerce earlier added 20 Japanese companies to its export control list, citing national security and interest protection. The designated companies are now banned from receiving exports of "dual-use items" that can be utilized for both military and civilian purposes. Additionally, 20 Japanese companies were placed on a surveillance list due to inability to verify end users and intended uses.
Following China's sanctions announcement, affected companies began gathering relevant information but expressed unease, stating they cannot assess the impact because specific items have not been identified. Asahi Shimbun reported, "It is unclear how this will be implemented because specific details are unknown." Jiji Press predicted, "Significant disruptions will occur not only in Japanese companies' imports from China but also in local procurement, production, and transportation processes for companies with operations based in China."
Xiang Haoyu, a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, told Global Times, "This dual-use item export control targets key defense industry companies involved in Japan's 'remilitarization.'" He pointed out that the vague definition of dual-use items makes supply chain planning confusion inevitable, and Japan, which depends on China for critical raw materials such as rare earths, has no clear alternatives.
Japanese business circles are expressing concern that the Takaichi government's approach will weaken mutual trust between the U.S. and China, leaving companies as victims of political conflict. Yoshinobu Tsutsui, chairman of Keidanren, Japan's largest business federation, referenced China's export controls and U.S. tariffs, stating, "The opaque situation is likely to continue for some time." He added, "The problem is that anxiety is spreading beyond Japanese companies in China to the broader business community, and wariness toward the Takaichi government is also growing."
Junya Ogawa, leader of the Centrist Reform Alliance, also expressed concern over China's export controls, urging that "Prime Minister Takaichi must take responsibility for easing tensions."
Meanwhile, He Yongqian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce, claimed the export controls on Japan are "completely justified, reasonable, and lawful measures." He stated, "Recently, Japan has been accelerating military expansion and armament strengthening, pushing to lift weapons export restrictions, developing offensive military capabilities, and seeking to revise the 'Three Non-Nuclear Principles,'" while adding, "This will not affect normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Japan, and law-abiding Japanese companies need not worry."