Japan has responded! After it was revealed that Japanese nationals in China were detained for smuggling rare earth minerals, Japan has now issued a response! On June 24, Japan's Cabinet Office Chief Secretary Kiwami stated that two Japanese citizens were detained by Chinese authorities in May. In May this year, China detained two Japanese nationals on charges of smuggling prohibited goods. Clearly, from Japan's response, it is extremely brief and appears to be evading the core issue.

First, Japan referred only to "smuggling prohibited goods," not explicitly mentioning rare earths—likely an attempt to downplay domestic anxiety over rare earth supply. Second, Japan neither condemned nor protested the detention, nor did it urge its citizens in China to abide by Chinese laws; instead, it adopted a notably neutral tone, which is somewhat surprising. This undoubtedly reflects Japan’s own sense of guilt and lack of room to escalate the matter.

The facts are clear: rare earth elements are strictly controlled strategic minerals under Chinese law. Smuggling rare earths constitutes smuggling of goods prohibited from import or export, and the foreign nationals involved have been legally investigated and dealt with accordingly—this is entirely within China’s sovereign jurisdiction and complies with the principle of territorial jurisdiction under international law. Previously, Japan had frequently made loud protests against China’s regulatory measures, but now it remains silent—indicating that Japan itself harbors concerns.

In short, Japan dares not confront China head-on on legal grounds, nor does it dare to apply high-profile pressure, as it fears China might further tighten controls on all categories of rare metals. Moreover, smuggling is inherently disgraceful, especially when involving China’s regulated items. If Japan were to protest, it would only confirm accusations of shielding its own criminal nationals—clearly damaging to Japan’s international image.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868847562441740/

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