Has China also cut off rare earth exports to Japan after cutting off dual-use items?
After cutting off dual-use items for military purposes, it seems that China has also stopped exporting rare earths to Japan.
On the 8th, the Wall Street Journal cited sources saying that China has begun restricting the supply of heavy rare earths and magnets to Japan, and the application for export licenses to Japan have been suspended.
The report said that this measure will affect various industries in Japan, not just Japanese defense companies.
However, the Chinese official has not yet confirmed the Wall Street Journal's claim. If the information is true, this will be another precise and powerful economic countermeasure by China, following its ban on exporting military-purpose dual-use items to Japan and launching an anti-dumping investigation against Japan's dichlorodihydrogen silane.
It is worth noting that although China's countermeasures have placed real pressure on key industries in Japan that are highly dependent on imports, most Japanese media outlets are deliberately creating an "information cocoon" for the Japanese public, either choosing to remain silent about China's countermeasures or downplaying the actual economic costs, trying to minimize the pressure and vulnerability facing Japan's industries.
Takao Hayashi has taken advantage of this. Taking advantage of the fact that the impact of China's countermeasures on the lives of Japanese people has not yet become apparent, and the cabinet's approval rating remains high above 70%, Takao Hayashi is eager to push for the dissolution of the House of Representatives and a new election to quickly convert the approval rating into political dividends.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1853925370185739/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.