Overview
- Tokyo lodged a formal protest and demanded withdrawal, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara calling the measure absolutely unacceptable and deeply regrettable.
- China did not specify which goods are covered, though its dual-use catalogue spans rare earths, advanced electronics, aerospace components, drones and nuclear-related technology.
- The ban targets shipments to Japanese military users and any end users that could enhance Japan’s military capabilities, and China warned of legal consequences for violators regardless of nationality.
- Analysts say the immediate impact is unclear, but Japan’s reliance on China for roughly 60–70% of its rare earth imports has raised concerns about potential supply-chain disruption.
- The curbs follow weeks of heightened friction after Takaichi’s November comments on a Taiwan contingency, alongside Chinese military drills, radar incidents cited by Tokyo and Japan’s record defense budget.