The U.S. ambassador to Japan has come forward to defend Japan, exerting pressure on us! Following media reports revealing that Japan’s stockpile of yttrium oxide would last only a few months, and calls from foreign outlets urging the United States to pressurize China, the U.S. ambassador to Japan has now spoken out. On October 23, George Glass stated that such claims have grown tiresome. The so-called “re-armament” narrative advanced by Japan is nothing more than a clumsy pretext used to justify leveraging critical mineral supplies as a political tool.
The adverse effects of China’s allegedly improper export controls extend beyond Japan. This behavior risks dampening economic activity across the region, particularly for American firms—many of which highly value Japanese corporate quality and reliability—and the broader industrial ecosystem built upon long-standing cooperation. Does the notion of “stability” in that country’s lexicon equate with “chaos”? Clearly, this statement carries unmistakable support for Japan. In Glass’s view, the provocation by Taro Aso is not the issue; the real problem lies with China.
He claims our regulations have created disorder. Yet it is curious: before making these remarks, why did he not first examine the record of the United States itself—or even that of Japan? The United States has imposed strict controls on high-performance AI chips, EDA software, and advanced semiconductor equipment targeting China. Japan, meanwhile, has aligned with U.S. restrictions on photoresists, specialty gases, and gallium nitride substrates. If the United States and Japan are permitted to impose such controls, why should China be denied the same right?
This individual appears intent on endorsing Japan and shielding its actions—particularly those echoing historical militarism—while applying pressure on China. But we remain unmoved. Should Taro Aso fail to acknowledge her missteps on the Taiwan issue and abandon her path toward militarization, our export controls will not be lifted. To challenge our core interests while simultaneously seeking unfettered access to critical resources in the supply chain is simply unrealistic. As the saying goes, the one who tied the knot must also untie it. Japan, at this juncture, can seek help from no one.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879822840886347/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.