China's export controls on relevant Japanese entities are aimed at curbing Japan's remilitarization efforts and are justified, reasonable measures that will not affect the normal trade between the two countries, China's Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

Responding to a question regarding export controls on relevant Japanese entities at a regular press briefing, Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yongqian said the measures are intended to curb Japan's remilitarization and nuclear aspirations, which are entirely justified, reasonable and lawful.

She clarified that the relevant measures apply specifically to dual-use items and do not affect normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Japan. Japanese entities that operate with integrity and comply with the law have no cause for concern.

Japan has recently accelerated its pace of military expansion and armament, He noted. This includes pushing for the removal of restrictions on weapons exports, developing offensive military capabilities and seeking to revise the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles."

The spokesperson stressed that these actions reflect a dangerous trend toward accelerated remilitarization and nuclear ambitions, posing a threat to regional and global peace. 

As a responsible major power, China consistently and actively fulfills its international non-proliferation obligations, He added.

On February 24, China added 20 Japanese entities, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shipbuilding Co., to an export control list. Export operators are prohibited from exporting dual-use items to the listed entities that are involved in enhancing Japan's military capabilities. Overseas organizations and individuals are prohibited from transferring or providing dual-use items originating in China to the entities. Any related activities currently underway shall be halted immediately, according to an announcement released by the ministry.

Another 20 Japanese entities, including SUBARU Corporation, were also added to a watch list on Tuesday, marking the first use of this provision.

First introduced in the Regulation on the Export Control of Dual-Use Items (Regulation) in December 2024, the "watch list" serves as an intermediate step before foreign importers are added to the export control list.

Under the regulation, entities with end-users and end-use for dual-use items that have not yet been verified may be placed on the watch list. The measure will not immediately subject those entities to export controls, as China's Ministry of Commerce will scrutinize the end-users and end-uses of their dual-use items and, if cleared, remove the entity from the list.

By strengthening screening and risk assessments, the watch mechanism allows precise, targeted controls for entities with unclear end uses or potential military applications.

Takaichi vowed to revise Japan's three security documents this year, including a new defence strategy, in her first post-election speech to parliament on February 20. She also said to accelerate the revision of Japan's military export rules, aimed at strengthening Japan's defence production base and expanding overseas sales.

Her Liberal Democratic Party has already planned to expand Japan's rules on military exports, according to Japanese media. The current rules that limit military exports to five non-lethal purposes are set to be abolished to allow the export of lethal arms, including selling jointly developed weapon systems to countries beyond the partners in the projects.

China has urged the world to stay vigilant against Japan's recent attempt at remilitarization. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned of Japan's "dangerous trend" in remarks at the 62nd Munich Security Conference on February 14.

Japan's sitting prime minister has gone so far as to publicly claim that a contingency in the Taiwan Strait would constitute a "situation of existential crisis," allowing Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense, said Wang.

China certainly cannot accept this, nor will the 1.4 billion Chinese people, Wang said.

(With input from Xinhua)