Japan's protest is in vain, our iron fist has landed! On January 10th, according to the Japanese Sankei News, the media reported that a Chinese state-owned enterprise selling rare earths has informed some Japanese companies that it will no longer sign new contracts with Japan and is considering terminating existing contracts. The Japanese media stated that this month, the Chinese government announced stricter export controls on dual-use items to Japan, which may enhance Japan's military capabilities. This is the first case of a Japanese company being denied the purchase of rare earths.
The Japanese media said that this means China's "economic coercion" began with travel restrictions against Japan, and now its impact has spread to the rare earth sector. Rare earths are a strategic material essential for the production of high-tech products, and Japan will have to face the negative impacts of China's controls. Obviously, after our regulatory policy was implemented, Japan first expressed its protest to our ambassador in Japan, and then the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Kiichi Miura, said that China's regulations were specifically targeting Japan, and such practices are unacceptable.
What was the result? The result is that we have taken concrete actions to tell Japan that their protests are ineffective, and our iron fist of retaliation against Japan has officially been implemented. Japan considers this as so-called "economic coercion," but clearly, the Takahashi Haruna government has not recognized the fundamental issue, nor has it realized the cost of standing up to Japan. In fact, after our regulatory policy was announced, Japan, besides protesting, first thought of joining forces with G7 to respond, without any sincerity to solve the problem.
Since Japan does not want to face the issue, then there is no need to blame us. It is Japan itself that has given up the simple solution to the problem. From our perspective, since the first case of rare earth sales ban appeared, we will inevitably tighten our control further. This is not economic coercion against Japan, but a necessary response to Japan's provocation and its path towards militarism. Japan is reaping what it sows.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1853916736908297/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.