China has imposed an immediate ban on exports of dual-use items to Japan, including certain rare earth elements critical for military and technology applications, in response to controversial remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.
The sweeping restrictions target goods, software, and technologies that have both civilian and military applications. Beijing's Commerce Ministry announced that exports of such items to military users or for any purposes contributing to Japan's military strength are now prohibited, effective immediately.
The ban was triggered by Prime Minister Takaichi's statement in parliament in November, when she said that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would constitute "a situation threatening Japan's survival," potentially triggering a military response from Tokyo. Beijing condemned the comments as "provocative" and framed the export ban as a defensive measure.
While Beijing did not specify which items fall under the new restrictions, approximately 1,100 items are on China's export control list for dual-use goods and technologies. These cover at least seven categories of medium and heavy rare earths, including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, and lutetium—elements essential for manufacturing drones, chips, and defense-grade magnets.
Japan's heavy dependence on Chinese rare earths makes this ban particularly concerning. According to trade statistics, Japan relied on China for 63% of its rare earth imports in 2024, particularly heavy rare earths used in defense-grade magnets. Despite decade-long diversification efforts through Australian supply chains and recycling programs, the dependency remains significant.
Japan's foreign ministry responded by strongly protesting the measures and demanding that China withdraw them. An official at the Japan External Trade Organization told reporters, "China has not provided a list of restricted items so at this stage it is impossible to say what impact the export curbs will have."
This is not the first time Beijing has weaponized rare earth exports against Japan. In 2010, China restricted such shipments following a diplomatic spat triggered by Japan's arrest of a Chinese fishing boat captain near the disputed Senkaku Islands.
Analysts suggest the move is more symbolic than immediately disruptive. China Customs data for November showed rare earth exports to Japan actually grew 35% to 305 metric tons, the highest tally of the year. However, the ban signals Beijing's willingness to escalate economic pressure in response to perceived security threats regarding Taiwan.
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