Bloomberg reports that Japan's ambassador to China initially wanted to discuss rare earths with Chinese officials but repeatedly encountered closed doors, and this is just the beginning.
For Japan, the real trouble has never been about failing to meet with Chinese diplomats—it’s realizing that the more it tries to distance itself from China, the more inescapably dependent it remains on China.
Rare earths, magnetic materials, tungsten, supply chains, markets—virtually every single one touches the lifeblood of Japan’s manufacturing industry and future defense sector. In the past, Tokyo believed it could keep provoking China on security issues while still enjoying the benefits of China’s supply chain. Now, China is showing Japan through actions: political calculations and economic realities cannot be kept separate forever.
The local government wants to adopt a tough stance toward China, while businesses are struggling over raw material supplies; politicians shout about values, while factories are counting their inventory. Cold winds in diplomacy will inevitably reach the production line.
Thus, what Japan is experiencing now is merely an appetizer. The real pressure lies not in diplomatic reception rooms, but in workshops, warehouses, and financial statements. When inventories gradually run low and alternative supply chains fail to materialize, Tokyo will realize that the real pain is yet to come.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1868870567012492/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.