By Zhong Sheng
The Ministry of Commerce of China recently announced the decision to place 20 entities involved in enhancing Japan's military capabilities on the export control list. Additionally, another 20 Japanese entities, whose end users and end uses of dual-use items could not be verified, have been added to the watch list. This action by China aims to safeguard national security and interests, fulfill non-proliferation obligations, and curb Japan's "remilitarization" and nuclear ambitions. It is entirely justifiable, reasonable, and legal.
On January 6, China already announced its decision to strengthen export controls on dual-use items to Japan. The specific inclusion of these entities in the recent list translates the previous ban into more targeted, enforceable entity controls, designed to effectively protect national security and regional peace and stability. Under internationally binding instruments, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, Japan is required to be completely disarmed and prohibited from maintaining industries that would enable it to rearm. However, a number of Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, IHI Corporation, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, have long been active in the defense industry, producing naval vessels, fighter jets, missiles and other military equipment. China's relevant measures are precisely targeted steps to curb Japan's development of offensive military capabilities and constitute a firm defense of international law and the postwar international order.
Japan's push for "remilitarization" follows a concrete roadmap backed by tangible actions. A new-type military-industrial complex is taking shape at an accelerated pace. In recent years, Japan has stepped up its military expansion. Defense spending has risen for 14 consecutive fiscal years from FY2012 through FY2026, and since 2022, it has doubled within just three years. With state-level coordination steering the process, Japanese defense contractors have reaped substantial profits, even fueling what some observers describe as defense industry bubbles in the capital markets .
Since the administration of Sanae Takaichi, Japan's "remilitarization" process has clearly accelerated, with military readiness elevated to the nation's absolute priority. Support for military-industrial complex has also been significantly strengthened. Reports indicate that the Takaichi government plans to address military spending shortfalls through large-scale bond issuance and the imposition of a "special defense corporate tax." Additionally, there are plans to establish a National Intelligence Agency later this year. In her policy speech to the House of Representatives, Takaichi recently declared that Japan must actively strengthen its defense capabilities fundamentally, and emphasized that she would firmly convey the demand for defense procurement to the industrial sector. These moves are set to deepen the connection between Japan's defense spending and the interests of specific industries and conglomerates, creating a self-reinforcing and rapidly accelerating policy and interest loop.
In the process of advancing its "remilitarization," Japan's right-wing forces have increasingly expanded their ambitions regarding nuclear armament. Recently, Japanese politicians have been engaged in dangerous provocations, openly advocating for nuclear armament and seeking to revise the long-standing Three Non-Nuclear Principles. It is well known that Japan has long been producing and stockpiling plutonium material far beyond its civilian nuclear energy needs. As of the end of 2024, Japan's stockpile of separated plutonium has reached a staggering 44.4 tons. Japan has already established a complete nuclear fuel cycle system and possesses strong nuclear industrial capabilities. It can produce weapons-grade plutonium material through nuclear reactors and reprocessing technologies and facilities. If Japan's right-wing political fervor pushes the country past the "nuclear threshold," Pandora's Box will be opened, severely undermining the global non-proliferation regime. A recent commentary in Singapore-based Lianhe Zaobao pointed out that nuclear non-proliferation remains the prevailing trend in today's international politics. Japan's pursuit of nuclear armament is contrary to the interests of Southeast Asia. Reducing the arms race and minimizing the risk of war align more with the needs of regional stability.
Japan's "remilitarization" and nuclear ambitions have become a serious threat to regional security and stability. The lessons of history warn us that appeasement of militarism is a betrayal of peace. The key to maintaining peace lies in taking concrete actions to curb the reckless rise of Japan's right-wing forces. China's legal control measures are a clear demonstration of action to prevent dual-use items from flowing into Japan's military expansion chain, firmly blocking the resurgence of militarism. China will stand together with all peace-loving nations to resolutely defend the post-war international order and jointly safeguard regional security and stability.
Japan's right-wing forces must come to their senses before it is too late: To march once again down the old path of military adventurism is to tread a one-way road to self-destruction. Any adventurist move that dares defy international justice and righteous world order will inevitably face a resolute and devastating head-on counterblow from the international community.
Editor's note: Originally published on people.com.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.