Japanese business rethinks high-tech deals with China

Nearly 50% of 3,000 people surveyed back Trump's hard-line policy

20200903 commuters in tokyo and shanghai scenery

Japanese businesspeople who have worked in China are aware of their dependence on that market but are leery of close ties, particularly in high tech. (Photos by Ken Kobayashi)

Nikkei staff writers

September 3, 2020 19:39 JST

TOKYO -- Japanese businesspeople are growing wary of China, a recent survey by the Japan Center for Economic Research and Nikkei found.

The survey found nearly half the respondents supported U.S. President Donald Trump's tough China policy. Fully 43.7% cited "high tech that can be diverted to military purposes" as an area where Japan should restrict dealings with China. The results suggest businesspeople are growing more concerned about the risk of technology leaks and financial losses from dealing with China than they are excited by the country's vast market.