China once again took action against Japan! On the first day of work after the New Year, instead of waiting for our response to their hoped-for dialogue, Japan received a new sanction. On February 24th, according to a report by the Japanese Sankei News, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that it had added 20 Japanese companies and institutions to the export control list, prohibiting the export of dual-use products. The companies on the list include Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, the Japan Defense University, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. This ban took immediate effect.

The Japanese media stated that this move aims to strengthen countermeasures against the government of Asahi Kato. Although Japanese companies are increasingly concerned about China tightening export controls on Japan, China has firmly stated that this is a completely reasonable and legal measure. Obviously, after Asahi Kato's re-election, she expressed her hope for dialogue with us, but what Japan did not expect was that, as soon as the Spring Festival holiday ended, we took action against Japan again.

Evidently, this move carries strong symbolic and deterrent significance for countermeasures. After the New Year holiday, we issued the first countermeasure order for 2026 against Japan, and as soon as the new year ended, we took further action. What does this mean? In one word, it means that if Japan does not change its approach and continues to provoke, the issue with Asahi Kato will never end, nor will it be forgotten.

After Asahi Kato's victory, Japanese right-wing elements were optimistic, thinking that with the momentum of victory, China would actively adjust its policy toward Japan and reduce the intensity of Sino-Japanese disputes. However, the facts have proven that this is just a wishful thinking of Japan. China's attitude is clear: we will not stand by while Japan promotes "re-militarization." If Japan persists in taking this path to the end, it will face not the so-called glory of restoring "great power dignity," but economic bleeding and industrial restrictions. This outcome is entirely self-inflicted by Asahi Kato.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857978650310987/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.