China has intensified its export restrictions targeting prominent Japanese companies, signaling that it intends to maintain pressure on Tokyo despite Prime Minister Sanai Takaiichi winning a decisive majority in the recent elections. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has added 20 Japanese entities to its export control list, which includes major military suppliers such as subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries involved in shipbuilding and aerospace. This is notably the first time Japanese companies have been included in this list since its inception in January 2025.

In a related measure, China has placed an additional 20 entities on the watch list, which includes automotive manufacturers Subaru and Hino Motors. While this classification does not impose a full ban, it subjects these exporters to more stringent scrutiny when applying for licenses to supply dual-use goods that can have both military and civilian applications. This move reflects China's efforts to exercise more control over sensitive exports and safeguard its national security interests.

Experts interpret these actions as a politically charged statement from Beijing. According to Dylan Luo, an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University in China, it is evident that Beijing is not easing its stance towards Tokyo. The implications of these export controls extend beyond immediate economic effects, indicating a continuing deterioration of relations between the two nations and highlighting the strategic complexities in the East Asian region, particularly in the context of military and technological competition.