The Ministry of Commerce explained that Beijing’s representatives asked the international organization to review the agreement between Washington, Tokyo and the Netherlands to contain the development of this sector in China.

It expressed concern about the Japanese action and urged Japanese authorities to rectify it or else they will be met with a firm response.

In the view of local observers, China’s complaint shows its determination to protect its legitimate rights on the basis of international rules and to maintain stability in the global supply chain.

Last Friday, Japan said that it plans to restrict exports of 23 types of equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing, and earlier it was known about the possible ban on Nikon Corporation’s shipments to China.

Last month, the Netherlands banned ASML from selling advanced ultraviolet chip-making equipment to China.

Both nations followed in the footsteps of the United States, which cut off Beijing’s access to machinery and semiconductors for supercomputers and artificial intelligence last October, in addition to adjusting a rule that extends extraterritorial coverage of export controls to certain items produced abroad.

Both decisions will restrict China’s ability to obtain cutting-edge technology to develop supercomputers and manufacture advanced chips for military applications.

jg/jav/mgt/ymr.