Japanese media reported that a Japanese male employee of a large Japanese-owned electronics company in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China, was detained by Chinese authorities at the end of May on suspicion of attempting to export products made with rare earth elements, which are subject to China's export controls, out of the country.
After Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made remarks last November regarding a "Taiwan contingency," tensions between China and Japan have continued to escalate, and economic and trade exchanges between the two countries have also been affected.
Last April, China implemented export controls on some heavy rare earths and magnets containing these elements. In January this year, China further tightened its export controls and reviews on Japanese dual-use goods, and has since taken additional restrictive measures twice, targeting major Japanese business groups. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that these actions are intended to curb Japan's “remilitarization” and nuclear ambitions.