China Widens Economic and Military Pressure on Japan

China has intensified a campaign of pressure against Japan that now spans trade, security and the detention of citizens, The New York Times reported. Beijing's measures include flying bombers near Japanese airspace, detaining Japanese businesspeople and tightening exports of rare-earth elements, the materials essential to magnets, electric motors and advanced electronics.

The dispute traces to remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting that a conflict over Taiwan could activate Japan's right to collective self-defense and the possible deployment of troops. In response, China's Ministry of Commerce issued an order in early January restricting dual-use exports to Japan, and reports indicate that license reviews for Japanese firms have since slowed. China supplies roughly 60% of Japan's rare earths, which gives Beijing leverage over Japanese manufacturing that is difficult to replace quickly.

The friction extends across the region. Russia's TASS reported that India rejected media accounts of a Chinese military advance into its northeastern border state of Arunachal Pradesh, an account first raised by a local tribal organization. Taken together, the episodes show Beijing testing several neighbors at once while denying that any single confrontation has become an open conflict.