China has accused Japan of ‘reckless militarism’. What’s behind the latest tensions?

China has denounced Japan’s ‘reckless new militarism’, while Tokyo has protested what it claims are Beijing’s defensive incursions, as relations sour

Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have ebbed and flowed in the decades since the second world war, but hit an undeniable low this week.

Denouncing what it proclaimed was Japan’s “reckless pursuit of ‘new militarism’”, this week China imposed new export controls on 40 Japanese companies over dual-use items, or items that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.