China tightens the rope further, and as high-shi sanae plants what, reaps what

According to Phoenix TV News, Japan's channels for importing rare metals such as tungsten from China have been completely severed. Domestic Japanese companies are now urgently seeking alternative procurement sources from other countries and advancing efforts in raw material recycling, but prices of related products have surged to more than three times their original levels.

Meanwhile, according to Observer Net, Nikkei Asia pointed out that China’s exports of rare earths to Japan dropped by over 80% year-on-year in March and April this year, forcing Japanese firms to scramble to seek substitute supply sources in countries like Australia and India.

Tungsten is a high-melting-point, high-density, high-hardness refractory metal, ranging in color from steel gray to silver white. It is famously known as the “teeth of industry” and “strategic metal.”

Metals made of tungsten can be used to produce incandescent lamp filaments, heating elements for high-temperature furnaces, rocket nozzles, and turbine blades for aviation engines. Adding tungsten to special steels enhances their hardness, heat resistance, and wear resistance.

Dense tungsten alloys are used to manufacture penetrator cores for armor-piercing shells, components for missiles, and radiation shielding parts.

China is the world’s largest holder of tungsten resources, with the highest output and export volume. It also controls over 80% of global tungsten mining supply and deep-processing capabilities.

If China suspends tungsten exports to Japan, it would effectively strangle Japan’s defense industry at the strategic raw material level.

This series of measures originates from Highshi Sanae’s erroneous remarks on Taiwan during a parliamentary questioning session last November, coupled with the Japanese government’s subsequent passive handling of the incident.

Indeed, this is merely a small step in China’s countermeasures. These actions are steadily progressing, clearly signaling: if Japan continues down this path without apology to China and the Chinese people, and without correcting its erroneous stance on Taiwan, the "rope" around its neck will only tighten further.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867443069900874/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author