China has defended its decision to enforce export restrictions on critical rare-earth elements to Japan, stating that the measures are designed to prevent Tokyo's potential remilitarisation and deter efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.
At a regular news briefing in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed that the trade restrictions were implemented strictly in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. Her comments followed a report by the Financial Times detailing that Japan had turned to the United States for help in persuading Beijing to relax the export controls amid rapidly declining stockpiles of yttrium, a crucial rare-earth element.
Addressing the diplomatic and supply chain concerns, Mao emphasized Beijing's commitment to international trade stability. "China’s position on maintaining the stability and security of global critical mineral production and supply chains remains unchanged," she said, adding that all involved parties should play a constructive role.
According to the Financial Times report, Japanese officials had reached out to Washington and major American companies to request strategic intervention. Domestic stockpiles of yttrium in Japan could be completely exhausted within months, creating major potential disruptions across the country's automotive, aerospace, and semiconductor manufacturing sectors. Yttrium is essential for producing heat-resistant coatings used in jet engines as well as specialized semiconductor equipment.
The restrictions are part of a broader move initiated by Beijing in February, when export controls were tightened on Japanese firms allegedly connected to military production. Driven by supply constraints and tightening regulations, global prices for yttrium outside China have surged 179-fold over the past two years.
