China restricts exports of military-related materials, from bulletproof vests to plane parts
- Ban will take effect on July 1 and major export destinations of some banned materials in recent months included the US and Israel
- Move is intended to ‘safeguard national security … fulfil international obligations such as non-proliferation’
Beijing announced export controls on various military-related materials and tools on Thursday.
The restricted items include equipment used to make aerospace parts and engines, gas turbines – which can be used in warships and tanks – as well as key components for bulletproof vests.
The rules come into force on July 1 and equipment, software and technology affected by the ban will not be allowed to be exported without authorisation, according to a statement jointly released by the Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs and Central Military Commission’s Equipment Development Department.
“It’s set to safeguard national security and interests and fulfil international obligations such as non-proliferation,” according to a statement from the commerce ministry.
The rare move from Beijing comes amid rising tensions surrounding technology and trade with the United States, as well as increasing pressure from the West to stop aiding Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Since the war broke out, many Chinese entities have been sanctioned by the US for their alleged support for Russia, including the export of equipment that has dual civilain and military uses.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week said the White House would work with the European Union to sanction Chinese companies supplying Russia with microelectronic and hi-tech products that support the country’s defence industry.
Beijing has repeatedly denied supplying Russia with weapons.
According to China’s customs data, the US, Vietnam and Singapore were the top-three importers of Chinese aerospace products specified on the list in the first four months of the year.
The US, India and Vietnam were the top-three importers of restricted goods related to gas turbines in the same period. Gas turbines can be used in warships and in large vehicles such as tanks.
The restrictions also cover ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibre, which can be used for protective equipment such as bulletproof helmets, body armour, bulletproof inserts and bulletproof plates.
Major export destinations for the material between January and April were Brazil, Vietnam, the US and Israel.
There are also restrictions on molds designed to make spacesuit visors, which are likely to affect countries such as Mexico, the US and Vietnam.
“The relevant policies do not target any specific country or region,” the commerce ministry said.
“The Chinese government firmly safeguards world peace and stability in surrounding areas, ensures the security of global industrial and supply chains, and promotes the development of compliant trade.
“At the same time, we oppose any country or region using controlled items from China to engage in activities that harm China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests.”
Exporters will need to submit details of their contacts and technical descriptions or test reports about export items, as well as giving the commerce authorities details about the importers and end users of their products.
The export of items that have a significant impact on national security will be submitted to the State Council for final approval.
The restrictions are the first of their kind since last September’s curbs on the export of drones that could have military applications.
Thanks to its vast manufacturing capacity, China dominates the supply chain for many materials that could be critical for military production, while the US and EU have also expressed increasing concern about their “overreliance” on Chinese manufacturing.
Earlier this year, some senior European figures, including EU internal markets commissioner Thierry Breton, said the bloc was unable to supply Ukraine with enough weapons because China was not supplying enough nitrocellulose, which is used to produce artillery ammunition.
Armin Papperger, chief executive of Rheinmetall, a leading ammunition producer based in Germany, told the Financial Times in April that Europe relied on China for “more than 70 per cent” of its cotton linters - the main raw material to make nitrocellulose.
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Lu Xiang, a senior researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences who specialises in US studies, said “since this export control order was formulated and issued with the participation of the Central Military Commission, it means that the relevant control measures are for military items or dual-use items”.
He said the measures did not have any specific targets but were designed to prevent the proliferation of military aviation and aerospace components.
“Especially in terms of preventing militarisation in space, this control order shows the clear attitude of the Chinese government,” he said.
He said the recipients and end uses of the restricted products would be reviewed “in line with international practice”, adding: “I understand that this control order will not affect legitimate applications in non-military fields.”
Lu Wei, an advisor at China’s public security guard training centre, which focuses on anti-terrorism work, also said the ban was not targeting any specific countries.
He said there was no “special meaning” behind the measures, which were designed to set up a licensing system and give priority to supporting central and state-owned enterprises.
“The licence will only be given to central or state-owned enterprises … If private enterprises or foreign enterprises want to do it, they have to work with central state-owned enterprises” he said.
Additional reporting by Amber Wang
