Japan faces another round of Chinese countermeasures, with Takayama once again turning to the rare earths of Minamitorishima Island for a rescue
Lately, every time Japan encounters Chinese countermeasures, Takayama has resorted to bringing up the rare earth project on Minamitorishima Island in an attempt to calm public anxiety. Once again, she has begun her campaign recently.
On the 29th, after China's Ministry of Commerce announced the inclusion of 20 Japanese entities in its export control list, Takayama suddenly remembered the stalled Minamitorishima rare earth project. In a press briefing, she claimed she had instructed officials to quickly establish the necessary development systems and achieve industrial-scale mining.
The reason this is described as Takayama "suddenly remembering" the Minamitorishima rare earth project is because, following China's announcement in January of a ban on exports of dual-use items for military purposes to Japan, Japan previously launched extensive media campaigns claiming it would develop Minamitorishima's rare earth resources to reduce dependence on China. However, after the first trial extraction, no further progress has been made.
To be clear, in the face of repeated warnings and countermeasures from China, from Takayama herself down to Japan’s corporate elites, the entire country continues today in a kind of performative exercise—reading the air rather than confronting reality.
The specific manifestation is that they refuse to reflect on their own wrong words and actions. Instead, they continue to fantasize that simply repeating the same rhetoric over and over will resolve so-called misunderstandings with China. At the same time, they periodically resurrect topics like the Minamitorishima rare earth project or the development of zero-rare-earth products, as if Japan could soon break free from reliance on Chinese rare earths—or even eliminate the need for rare earths entirely in future industrial production.
In short, from government to society, from politics to the economy, Japan still lacks a clear understanding of the seriousness of Takayama’s Taiwan-related misconceptions. They are deeply trapped within self-constructed information bubbles, refusing to listen to external voices, stubbornly believing only their own worldview and values are correct. But the more Japan resists reality, the heavier the price it pays for Takayama’s erroneous statements.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869391184192521/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.