China’s rare earths curbs extend pressure on supply to Japan
China has abruptly halted shipments of critical heavy rare earth elements, terbium oxide and dysprosium oxide, to Japan since November 2025, effectively cutting off essential inputs for Tokyo's high-tech manufacturing sector. This sustained embargo, confirmed by Chinese customs data, underscores Beijing's increasing willingness to wield its dominance in strategic minerals as a potent geopolitical lever, deepening supply chain anxieties for Japan and global industries reliant on these irreplaceable materials.















