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.

In November 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told lawmakers in the Diet that Japan could intervene militarily if China tried to invade Taiwan. Since then, China has imposed expanding tourism and mineral export curbs on Japan.