A Japanese company tried to export machine tools to Taiwan that could be converted to military use

On June 9, the police in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan conducted an on-site search on the machine tool export company 'ITI' in Kita Ward, Osaka City, on suspicion of violating the 'Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Act'. The company is trying to export to Taiwan some of the 'combined rotary machine tools' that can be converted into weapons-making machinery. Kyodo News reported that the company was suspected of illegally exporting three combined rotary machine tools (valued at 7.5 million yen) from Kobe Port to a Taiwanese machinery manufacturing company in early April 2010 without the approval of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The combined rotary machine tool is one of the strategic materials that can be converted for military use in the export trade management order formulated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan in accordance with the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Law.