Japan has appealed to China to reverse newly imposed export restrictions on goods with potential military applications, a move that has deepened diplomatic tensions between the two countries and raised concerns over the supply of critical rare earth minerals.
China’s commerce ministry announced on Tuesday that it had strengthened export controls on so-called dual-use items bound for Japan, with immediate effect. Although Beijing did not specify the products affected, the decision has fuelled anxiety in Tokyo that rare earth minerals could be among the targeted materials.
The latest action comes against the backdrop of strained relations following comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November, suggesting Japan could respond militarily if Taiwan were attacked. China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has sharply criticised Japan’s security posture and growing military capabilities.
Reacting to the announcement, Masaaki Kanai, secretary general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at Japan’s Foreign Ministry, lodged a formal protest with Shi Yong, deputy chief of mission at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo. Kanai described the measures as unacceptable, saying they deviated significantly from international norms and should be withdrawn.
Japan remains heavily dependent on China for rare earth supplies, with more than 70 per cent of its imports sourced from the country, according to the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy. Despite efforts to diversify supply chains after a 2010 dispute that saw China briefly halt exports, Tokyo remains vulnerable to any major disruption.
Analysts say the lack of clarity in China’s announcement may be deliberate. Global risk consultancy Teneo noted that the move could range from symbolic to highly disruptive, warning that even limited restrictions could pressure Japan into adopting a more conciliatory stance toward Beijing.
Economists have also warned of serious economic consequences if rare earths are included in the controls. Takahide Kiuchi of Nomura Research Institute estimated that a three-month ban could cost Japan about 660 billion yen and reduce economic growth, given Japan’s near-total dependence on China for certain rare earths used in electric vehicles and advanced technologies.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minoru Kihara, declined to comment on the potential impact on Japanese industries, citing uncertainties surrounding the scope and implementation of the Chinese measures.
