China's commerce ministry on June 29 announced it was adding 20 Japanese companies to its export control list, cutting off their access to China's list of dual-use exports like rare earths, with the ministry noting the measures are aimed at "deterring Japan's reckless pursuit of 'new-type militarism." That day, the ministry also placed 20 Japanese companies on its export watch list, requiring license requests and security reviews with indefinite timelines.