Japan Protests China'S Export Controls On 40 Entities, February 2026

On February 25, 2026, Japan officially protested against China's recent export controls targeting 40 Japanese entities, including major companies like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has justified these restrictions by asserting that they are necessary to prevent Japan's remilitarization, stating, "The above measures are aimed at curbing Japan’s ‘remilitarization’ and nuclear ambitions and are completely legitimate, reasonable and lawful." This escalation follows Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's controversial comments in November regarding a potential military response to an attack on Taiwan, which have been linked to China's intensified economic actions against Japan.