Mount Fuji in Japan. (Reprinted from Gan Jing World )
[People News] The Japanese government has recently published a list of certified vendors as part of its efforts to enhance the cybersecurity of power facilities. Approximately 30 companies, including those from the U.S. and South Korea, have received certification for their products. However, no Chinese manufacturers, including BYD and Huawei, made the list. This exclusion is attributed to the CCP's "National Intelligence Law," which is said to undermine the operational foundation of Chinese enterprises abroad, effectively keeping them "shut out."
As reported by the Dajiyuan, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has announced that by the end of 2025, starting from the 2027 fiscal year, all equipment connected to Japan's power transmission grid—including battery management systems (BMS) for large energy storage stations, power converters (PCS), and power conversion equipment used in solar power generation—must obtain JC-STAR certification before being put into operation.
The certification process is managed by the Information Processing Promotion Agency (IPA), which operates under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan. According to the IPA's publicly available certification list, around 30 companies, including Japan's Power X, South Korea's Samsung, the U.S.'s Tesla, and Germany's SMA, have had their equipment certified in the battery and solar energy sectors.
In contrast, major Chinese manufacturers of energy storage and solar equipment, such as Huawei, Sungrow, BYD, and CATL, have not received any certifications.
A senior executive from a Chinese battery manufacturer expressed strong dissatisfaction in a report by the Nikkei, stating, "Only the applications from Chinese manufacturers were not approved, which effectively means being shut out."
Reports indicate that the head of the Cybersecurity Division of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry did not offer an explanation regarding the case but stressed, "A comprehensive judgment is made based on the information submitted by the applicant and the information held by the Japanese government."
Experts suggest that the root of the issue lies in the Chinese Communist Party's National Intelligence Law.
Why are Chinese companies struggling to obtain certification? The key insight is found within the official review application from Japan. This application requires the applying company to clearly state: "Is there any concern that the applicant company or the manufacturing supplier may be influenced in ensuring product cybersecurity due to factors such as the legal environment of foreign countries (outside Japan)?"
The emphasis of this review item is not on the "technical defects of the product itself," but rather on the legal environment of the country where the company is based.
Wenzi Meguro, a senior strategist at the consulting firm GloShip, which specializes in battery equipment, noted: "This confirmation project is in conflict with the Chinese Communist Party's National Intelligence Law, which is why Chinese companies are unable to obtain certification."
The National Intelligence Law, enacted by the Chinese Communist Party in 2017, states: "All organizations and citizens must support, assist, and cooperate with national intelligence work in accordance with the law, and keep confidential any state secrets they are aware of." It further stipulates: "When national intelligence agencies conduct intelligence work in accordance with the law, they may request relevant authorities, organizations, and citizens to provide necessary support, assistance, and cooperation."
Mokubo Fumiko pointed out that the regulations mentioned above fundamentally conflict with Japan's certification requirements. 'If the Chinese (Communist Party) authorities try to obtain data through the communication functions of products, or request cooperation regarding data controlled by merchant devices, Chinese companies will find it difficult to refuse,' she said. She emphasized that this legal structure, which forces cooperation, reflects the preventive exclusion mindset that many countries have adopted towards the Beijing government's control in recent years.
In fact, the demand for smart devices (IoT) to ensure information security has become a global trend. The European Union (EU) is set to fully implement the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) by December 2027, which will prohibit the sale of devices that do not meet security standards in the EU market. Meanwhile, the United States will introduce the 'Cyber Trust Mark' information security standard for smart devices in 2025.
Chinese manufacturers like BYD are facing risks that have already been recognized in the communications sector. European and American countries have excluded Chinese-made communication equipment, such as Huawei, from the core network in their 5G infrastructure, based on the same reasoning: the concern is not whether the product has specific backdoors, but rather the potential for companies to be compelled to cooperate with national intelligence activities under the legal framework, which is seen as an unacceptable risk for critical infrastructure.
Experts warn that the methods used by Chinese manufacturers to obscure the origins of their products may struggle to pass scrutiny.
A report by Nikkei indicates that Chinese manufacturers are currently exploring two circumvention strategies: the first is to form joint ventures with Japanese companies to lessen the Chinese identity; the second is to relocate sales companies to the United States and other locations in an effort to alter the perception of Chinese enterprises.
However, experts are skeptical about these rebranding attempts. Meguro Fumiko candidly remarked, "As long as the main manufacturing entity remains in China, the chances of obtaining certification are still very low."
She explained that as long as the core of product research, development and manufacturing is based in China, concerns regarding the jurisdiction of the Chinese Communist Party's National Intelligence Law cannot be eliminated.
The National Intelligence Law Undermines the Overseas Viability of Chinese Enterprises
In the view of legal scholars, geopolitical experts, and information security professionals both domestically and internationally, the National Intelligence Law enacted by the Chinese Communist Party in 2017 is widely seen as "the most foolish and destructive self-sabotaging legislation by the CCP in recent years in its international diplomatic and economic expansion."
Numerous seasoned experts on China suggest that the creation of the National Intelligence Law reflects the "paranoia of national demise" that has lingered over the CCP leadership since Xi Jinping took office. Beijing prefers to let economic interests suffer and allow enterprises to be besieged abroad rather than fail to establish a legal barrier of "absolute control" at home. This represents a classic case of "self-sabotaging stability maintenance." Driven by internal fears, the regime enacts draconian laws for strict control; these laws lead to comprehensive international isolation, a slowdown in the domestic economy, and rising unemployment; and the worsening economic situation further intensifies the regime's insecurity, compelling it to adopt even more extreme control measures.
Experts highlight that the most critical flaw of this law lies in its clear dismantling of the Western world's previous belief in the 'separation of politics and business' in China. It effectively serves as an official admission that 'Chinese companies and citizens could potentially act as spies.'
This reflects the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) authoritarian urge for control, which has directly deprived its own enterprises of the essential foundation of trust that they need to thrive in the international arena.
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