China added 20 Japanese organizations, including major companies, to a blacklist on Monday over the export of items that can be used for both military and civilian purposes, escalating a months-long row between Beijing and Tokyo.

The new additions “have participated in enhancing Japan‘s military capabilities”, the Commerce Ministry said in a statement.

The export curbs are being implemented “for the purpose of safeguarding national security and interests and fulfilling international obligations including non-proliferation”, it added.

The 20 additions to the export blacklist named Monday include various specialized subsidiaries and technology firms involved in supplying components and engineering support for Japan’s defense sector.

Among them are the National Institute for Defense Studies and Mitsubishi Electric Defense and Space Technologies Corporation, the statement said.

Another 20 Japanese entities were added to a watchlist, the ministry said, requiring exporters to submit risk assessments and guarantees that dual-use items will not enhance Japanese military strength prior to making shipments.

Those named on the watchlist can apply to be removed by cooperating with “verification” procedures according to Chinese law, the statement said.

China is the world’s largest producer and refiner of rare earths, which are crucial for various high-tech products including electric vehicles, smartphones, missile guidance systems and lasers.

Japan has “strayed further down the wrong path, intensifying its push for a ‘new form of militarism'”, an unnamed commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement on the latest measures.

“China’s move is entirely justified, reasonable, and lawful,” it said, adding that the decision “does not affect normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Japan”.

Meanwhile, Tokyo said on Monday that new export controls announced by China on 20 Japanese organizations were “unacceptable and deeply regrettable”.

“Our government lodged a strong protest and demanded that the measures be withdrawn. We will now carefully examine the implications of these measures and take the necessary action,” top government spokesman Minoru Kihara told reporters. (AFP)