Japan has urged China to revoke tougher new export controls on products with potential military uses, possibly including vital rare earth minerals, in a further escalation of diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.

China’s commerce ministry said that authorities had decided to strengthen export controls on dual-use items to Japan, with immediate effect.

The move comes as China ramps up pressure on Tokyo after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Japan might react militarily to any attack on Taiwan.

Beijing claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has not ruled out seizing it by force. China has also been highly critical of Japan’s military build-up.

While the Chinese statement did not specify affected items, it fuelled concerns in Japan that Beijing could restrict supplies of rare earth minerals, some of which are listed by China as dual-use goods.

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