(BSS/AFP) - China began collecting "deposits" on imports of a key chipmaking chemical from Japan on Tuesday after it said a probe found evidence of dumping that harmed Beijing`s domestic industry.

The Chinese commerce ministry announced in January an anti-dumping investigation into dichlorosilane imported from Japan -- a major global supplier of the chemical used to manufacture semiconductors.

The probe came at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions between the Asian giants after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Tokyo may intervene in an attack on the island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.

The Chinese commerce ministry said on Monday that "preliminary evidence showed the investigated imports from Japan were involved in dumping, and the domestic dichlorosilane industry suffered substantial damage".

As a result, the ministry said it would implement "temporary anti-dumping measures in the form of a security deposit" beginning Tuesday.

Japanese firms must pay the extra fee, calculated using an assigned deposit collection rate, to China`s customs authority.

All Japanese firms are subject to a rate of 99.2 percent, with the exception of Tokyo-based Denal Silane, which was given a rate of 80.8 percent.

A spokesman for Japanese chemical conglomerate Shin-Etsu Chemical told AFP the firm was studying the measure.

He declined to discuss financial details about the exports of the product, but said "it represents a very small portion of our business (and) should have no material impact on our overall business".

Minoru Kihara, the Japanese government`s chief cabinet secretary, told his daily media briefing that Tokyo would "appropriately respond to China`s export control measures".

"Japan has lodged a strong protest and is formally requesting that these measures be withdrawn," he added.

The Chinese commerce ministry did not say how long the imported chemical would be subject to deposits, or when it would announce a final ruling.