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Rare Earths and the East China Sea: Why hasn't China embargoed shipments to Japan?

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Rare Earths and the East China Sea: Why hasn't China embargoed shipments to Japan?
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As tensions persist between China and Japan in the East China Sea, it is interesting to note that one of the most symbolic actions of the previous crisis has yet to make an appearance this time around.

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The stoppage of rare earth shipments to Japan in the fall of 2010 lasted nearly two months, threatened the health of vital Japanese industries, and placed this once obscure raw materials issue on the front page of newspapers across the globe. China’s near monopoly on the global production of rare earth oxides - metals that have become essential components in making a range of high tech products that include vehicles, wind turbines, consumer electronics, medical equipment and defense systems - proved to be a useful tool for applying pressure on Japan. Two years later, the possibility of China cutting off Japan’s access to rare earths has been floated once again in the Chinese press, but has yet to take place. So why hasn’t China played the rare earth card?

The opacity of China’s decision-making apparatus and of the rare earth business itself makes precise answers hard to come by, but a number of related points are worth noting and ultimately serve to contextualize China’s real power to use rare earths as an economic weapon today. In particular, the risks for China seem to be higher today than in 2010 while the potential impact on Japan is much lower.

 

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Rare Earths and the East China Sea: Why hasn't China embargoed shipments to Japan?

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John SEAMAN

Intitulé du poste

Chercheur, Centre Asie de l'Ifri

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Asia Map
Center for Asian Studies
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Asia is a nerve center for multiple global economic, political and security challenges. The Center for Asian Studies provides documented expertise and a platform for discussion on Asian issues to accompany decision makers and explain and contextualize developments in the region for the sake of a larger public dialogue.

The Center's research is organized along two major axes: relations between Asia's major powers and the rest of the world; and internal economic and social dynamics of Asian countries. The Center's research focuses primarily on China, Japan, India, Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific, but also covers Southeast Asia, the Korean peninsula and the Pacific Islands. 

The Centre for Asian Studies maintains close institutional links with counterpart research institutes in Europe and Asia, and its researchers regularly carry out fieldwork in the region.

The Center organizes closed-door roundtables, expert-level seminars and a number of public events, including an Annual Conference, that welcome experts from Asia, Europe and the United States. The work of Center’s researchers, as well as that of their partners, is regularly published in the Center’s electronic journal Asie.Visions.

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Date de publication
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Date de publication
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Accroche

Taiwan, known for its leadership in semiconductors and information and communications technology (ICT), is now making significant strides in the space industry. While historically modest, Taiwan’s space program has seen a transformation since 2020, driven by President Tsai Ing-wen’s commitment to expanding the country’s space capabilities. Key milestones include the passage of the Space Development Act and the creation of the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA), which has bolstered the resources and visibility of Taiwan’s space ambitions.

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Date de publication
31 October 2024
Accroche

Given the highly disruptive potential of AI, global cooperation on AI safety and governance is imperative, and yet the deeply transformational potential of AI also ensures that a high level of competition and systemic rivalry is likely unavoidable. How can the EU best manage its complex relationship with China in the field of AI so as to ensure a necessary level of cooperation in spite of competition and rivalry?

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China’s Quest for a Quantum Leap

Date de publication
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The global race to harness quantum science is intensifying. Recognizing the strategic potential of quantum technology for economic, military, and scientific advancement, China is focusing on quantum breakthroughs as a way to shift the balance of power, especially in its competition with the United States. President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of scientific innovation, particularly in quantum fields, to fuel national development and ensure security.

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Rare Earths and the East China Sea: Why hasn't China embargoed shipments to Japan?
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Rare Earths and the East China Sea: Why hasn't China embargoed shipments to Japan?

Rare Earths and the East China Sea: Why hasn't China embargoed shipments to Japan?