- March 15th, 2026
China’s escalating restrictions on Japanese defence-linked companies have largely been framed as a bilateral clash between Asia’s two largest economies. Yet the consequences extend far beyond Tokyo and Beijing. Across Southeast Asia, where supply chains for rare earths, electronics, automotive...
Japan took a bold step toward securing critical minerals on Monday as a government-backed deep-sea mining vessel set sail on a pioneering mission to extract rare earth–rich mud from the ocean floor near the remote Minamitori Island, highlighting Tokyo’s growing...
The United States signaled a tougher stance toward China on Sunday (Nov 2), warning that tariffs could be raised again if Beijing fails to honor its commitments on rare earth exports. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration is...
China continues to dominate the global rare earths supply chain, leveraging its influence not through overt export bans but via a more subtle system of licensing delays, quota management, and administrative control. While partner economies have learned much since the...