China's latest enforcement of export control measures against certain Japanese entities with military ties is aimed at curbing Tokyo's re-militarization and any attempts to acquire nuclear weapons, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday, stressing that the move is fully "legitimate, reasonable, and lawful".

He Yongqian, a spokeswoman for the ministry, told a news conference that Tokyo has stepped up its military buildup, sought to revise the Three Non-Nuclear Principles and lift restrictions on weapons exports, while developing offensive military capabilities.

"It reflects Japan's dangerous acceleration toward re-militarization and its potential ambitions of creating nuclear weapons, posing a threat to peace and stability in the region and the world," He said.

As a responsible major country, China has always actively fulfilled its international non-proliferation obligations, she added.

On Tuesday, the ministry added 20 Japanese entities, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shipbuilding Co, to its export control list.

Meanwhile, the ministry also placed another 20 Japanese entities on a separate watch list, requiring stricter reviews of exported items that could be used for military purposes.

China's decision to list the entities in accordance with the law targets only a small number of Japanese entities, the spokeswoman said.

"The measures apply only to dual-use items. They will not affect normal economic and trade exchanges between the two sides, and Japanese entities that operate in good faith and comply with the law have nothing to worry about," she added.