Japan Works to Diversify Critical Mineral Supplies in Face of China Curbs, PM Says

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama is set to travel to Washington on Jan. 11 to discuss critical mineral supplies with her G-7 counterparts.
Japan Works to Diversify Critical Mineral Supplies in Face of China Curbs, PM Says
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a press conference in Ise, Mie Prefecture on Jan. 5, 2026. JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images
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Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said the government is collaborating with its Group of Seven allies to establish a supply chain that minimizes reliance on “any single country” for critical materials, as its economy endures escalating retaliation from Beijing.

Beijing’s new export controls that target only Japan are a significant departure from international protocols, Takaichi said in an interview on public broadcaster NHK that aired on Jan. 11, calling the curbs “unacceptable.”