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 ImagesJapanese 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.”